A legal practitioner, Johnmary Jideobi, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order to bar former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 presidential election.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, Jideobi listed Jonathan as the first defendant, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) were joined as second and third defendants respectively.
The lawyer prayed the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in Nigeria for nomination as a presidential candidate.
He also asked the court to restrain INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a duly nominated candidate in any election.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit and deposed to by one Emmanuel Agida, the plaintiff identified himself as an advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law.
Jideobi argued that allowing Jonathan to contest again would violate Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which limits a person to a maximum of two terms or eight years in office as President.
He submitted that if Jonathan were to win the 2027 election and serve another four-year term, his cumulative tenure would exceed the constitutionally permitted limit.
The suit, therefore, seeks the court’s interpretation of whether, in view of the combined provisions of Sections 1(1)-(3) and 137(3) of the Constitution, Jonathan is eligible under any circumstance to contest for the office of the President of Nigeria.
Jideobi’s prayers include:
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A declaration that Jonathan is ineligible to contest or occupy the office of President again.
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A declaration that INEC lacks constitutional authority to accept or publish his name as a candidate in any presidential election.
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An order of perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination.
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An order directing the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure compliance with any decision made by the court in the matter.
The development comes amid renewed calls from opposition figures urging Jonathan to return to the race for 2027.
Although the former president has yet to make any public statement about his intentions, the Presidency recently issued a statement welcoming the idea of Jonathan contesting against President Bola Tinubu but warned that he would be haunted by what it described as his disastrous past record in office.
