The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 26, 2026, for judgment in a suit challenging the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu announced the date on Monday after all parties adopted their final written addresses in the matter.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was filed by an Abuja based lawyer seeking the court’s interpretation of constitutional provisions relating to presidential tenure limits and a determination of whether Jonathan remains constitutionally qualified to seek the presidency again.
Both the Attorney General of the Federation and Jonathan urged the court to dismiss the suit and award substantial costs against the plaintiff. They also opposed a motion requesting the recusal of the judge over allegations of bias.
At the centre of the case is the interpretation of Sections 1(1), (2) and (3), alongside Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, particularly whether Jonathan is eligible “under any circumstances whatsoever” to contest the presidency again.
The plaintiff is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself for nomination by any political party for the 2027 presidential election and subsequent elections.
He also requested an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
In an affidavit filed before the court, the plaintiff argued that Jonathan would exceed the constitutional maximum of eight years in office if allowed to serve another term beginning in 2027.
The plaintiff maintained that Jonathan completed the unexpired tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua before later securing a full term following the 2011 presidential election, thereby exhausting the constitutional limit of two terms in office.
He further warned that failure by the court to intervene could create a situation where a political party fields Jonathan as its candidate, resulting in what he described as a third oath of office.
Justice Lifu also stated that all rulings relating to preliminary objections in the matter would be delivered alongside the final judgment scheduled for May 26, 2026.
