The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan remains constitutionally qualified to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Delivering judgment in the matter, Justice Peter Lifu held that there is no legal barrier preventing Jonathan from seeking another term in office.
The judge further stated that the question surrounding the former president’s eligibility had already been settled by the Court of Appeal, making the fresh suit unnecessary.
The court consequently dismissed the case filed by Abuja-based lawyer Jideobi Johnmary, describing it as frivolous and an abuse of court process.
Justice Lifu also ruled that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing required to institute the action.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, the plaintiff argued that Jonathan was ineligible to contest again because he had already taken the presidential oath of office twice.
The suit asked the court to determine whether the provisions of Sections 1 and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution barred Jonathan from seeking the presidency again under any circumstance.
Among the reliefs sought by the plaintiff were orders restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination as a presidential candidate in 2027 or in future elections.
The plaintiff also requested an order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
Additionally, the suit sought an order directing the Attorney-General of the Federation to enforce compliance with any judgment delivered by the court.
In an affidavit filed in support of the case by Emmanuel Agida, the plaintiff maintained that Jonathan had already exhausted the constitutional maximum of two terms after completing the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and subsequently winning the 2011 presidential election.
The plaintiff argued that if Jonathan were elected again in 2027 and served until 2031, his total years in office would exceed the constitutional limit allowed for a Nigerian president.
However, the court rejected the argument and upheld Jonathan’s eligibility to participate in future presidential contests.