The Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to issue a perpetual injunction restraining former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The suit, filed by lawyer Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, also sought to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a duly nominated candidate for the contest. INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation were listed as the 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
The plaintiff posed a single 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?”
He asked the court for four principal declarations and orders, including a ruling that Jonathan is “ineligible to stand for or occupy the office of the President,” an injunction restraining him from presenting himself to any party for nomination, and an order compelling INEC not to accept his name as a candidate. He also sought an order directing the Attorney-General to ensure compliance.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Emmanuel Agida stated that Jonathan was first sworn in as President on May 6, 2010, following the death of then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, before being elected in 2011 to serve a full term.
The plaintiff argued that by completing Yar’Adua’s tenure and subsequently serving one elected term, Jonathan had exhausted the constitutional limit of two terms.
“That if the court does not intervene timeously, a political party may present the 1st defendant as its presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, thereby breaching the Constitution,” the affidavit read.
The lawyer insisted that, as a Nigerian citizen and advocate of constitutionalism, he has a duty to prevent a violation of the Constitution, stressing that Jonathan’s participation in 2027 would amount to a third presidential tenure.
“It will be in the interest of justice for this Honourable Court to grant the prayers contained on the face of this Originating Summons,” the plaintiff maintained.
No date has yet been fixed for hearing.
