A Federal High Court in Abuja is set to hear a suit on Friday seeking to bar former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The case is being heard before Justice Peter Lifu, who had earlier ordered that hearing notices be served on all defendants after they failed to file responses.
The suit was filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to declare Jonathan constitutionally ineligible to run for president again.
He is also requesting an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself as a candidate to any political party for the 2027 election, as well as a directive preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing his name as a presidential candidate.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation are joined as co-defendants alongside Jonathan.
The plaintiff is asking the court to interpret provisions of the 1999 Constitution relating to presidential tenure limits, arguing that Jonathan has already served the maximum allowed terms.
According to the affidavit supporting the suit, Jonathan first assumed office in 2010 following the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later served a full elected term after the 2011 election.
The plaintiff argues that this combination amounts to two terms in office, which he claims is the constitutional limit for a Nigerian president.
He further warned that allowing Jonathan to contest and possibly win in 2027 would result in him taking the presidential oath of office for a third time.
The suit maintains that it was filed in the public interest to uphold constitutional supremacy and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system.
