A fresh suit has been filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to prevent former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The case, filed by lawyer Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, questions Jonathan’s eligibility under the Constitution.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, asks the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in Nigeria for the purpose of contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The plaintiff also seeks to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting Jonathan’s name from any political party or publishing it as a duly nominated candidate for the presidential race.
The Attorney General of the Federation has been listed as the third defendant, with a request that the court direct the office to ensure compliance with its decisions.
Specifically, the suit poses a lone question for the court to determine: “Whether in view of the combined provisions of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and their conflated interpretation, the 1st Defendant is eligible, under any circumstances [whatsoever] to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”
Following this question, the plaintiff sought several principal reliefs, including: “A declaration of this Honourable Court that upon an intimate reading and complete understanding of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended the first Defendant [GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN] is ineligible to stand for or occupy the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” He also requested: “A declaration of this Honorable Court that in view of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended the 2nd Defendant [the INEC] lacks the constitutional power to receive from any political party the name of the first defendant or publish same as the candidate of any political party for the election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.”
The plaintiff further sought “An order of perpetual injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the first Defendant [Goodluck Ebele Jonathan] from presenting himself to any political party in Nigeria for nomination as its candidate for the general election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.”
He also requested: “An order of perpetual injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the 2nd Defendant [INEC] from either accepting from any political party in Nigeria the name of the 1st Defendant [Goodluck Ebele Jonathan] or publishing same as a candidate for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.” Additionally, the plaintiff asked for “An order of this Honourable Court directing the 3rd Defendant [Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation] to ensure compliance with the decisions and Orders of this court.”
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, one Emmanuel Agida stated: “I am an advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law. If the 1st defendant, Jonathan, wins the 2027 presidential election, which is for a term of 4 years spanning 2027 to 2031, he would have exceeded 8 years being the cumulative maximum years a Nigerian President is statutorily permitted to stay in office.”
The court is yet to rule on the matter, with proceedings ongoing.