A Federal High Court in Abuja has been approached with a fresh legal action seeking to disqualify former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 general elections or any subsequent presidential race.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was instituted by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Dr. Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination as a presidential candidate.
Also joined in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), listed as the second and third defendants respectively.
Lawyer’s Argument
In the originating summons, Jideobi is urging the court to determine whether Jonathan is constitutionally eligible to seek another term, in light of Sections 1(1–3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Supporting the suit, an affidavit sworn to by Emmanuel Agida on behalf of the plaintiff, described Jideobi as an advocate of constitutionalism who believes that permitting Jonathan to contest again would amount to a clear breach of the Constitution.
The lawyer argued that Jonathan, having completed the unexpired tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010 and subsequently serving a full term between 2011 and 2015, has already exceeded the constitutional ceiling of two terms in office.
He cited Section 137(3), which provides that any person sworn in to complete the tenure of another president shall only be eligible to contest for a single additional term.
Public Interest Claim
Jideobi explained that he took legal action following media reports suggesting that the former president was being considered by some political groups to return to the ballot in 2027.
According to him, “if the 1st defendant eventually contests and wins the 2027 presidential election, he would be serving beyond the cumulative maximum of eight years prescribed for any Nigerian president.”
He therefore prayed the court to:
Declare Jonathan ineligible to contest any future presidential election.
Restrain INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a candidate.
Direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure compliance with any order the court may grant.
Next Steps
The plaintiff insisted that the suit was filed in the public interest and for the sake of protecting the rule of law.
So far, the court has not fixed a date for hearing the matter.