A lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop 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, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the second, and the Attorney-General of the Federation as the third defendant.
The lawyer is asking the court to issue an order preventing Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination and to stop INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a presidential candidate.
According to Jideobi, allowing Jonathan to contest again would violate the Nigerian Constitution. In an affidavit filed in support of the case, one Emmanuel Agida described the lawyer as “an advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law.”
Jideobi argued that Jonathan had already served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, and contesting again could allow him to exceed the maximum eight-year limit allowed by the Constitution.
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He asked the court to determine whether, under Sections 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Jonathan is eligible “under any circumstances whatsoever” to contest for president again.
The lawyer is seeking four main declarations, including one that states Jonathan is “ineligible to contest for or occupy the office of the President of Nigeria.”
He also wants the court to declare that INEC “lacks the constitutional power to receive or publish Jonathan’s name as a candidate of any political party for the presidential election in 2027 or any future election.”
In addition, Jideobi asked the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from seeking nomination from any political party in 2027 or later. He also requested an order directing the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure compliance with whatever ruling the court makes on the matter.
In recent weeks, there have been calls from political groups urging Jonathan to join the 2027 race. However, the former president has not publicly declared his intention to contest.
Last week, the Presidency released a statement welcoming Jonathan to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next election but said he would be haunted by what it described as his “disastrous record in office.”
The case is expected to clarify whether Jonathan, who served as president from 2010 to 2015, is legally allowed to seek the presidency again under Nigeria’s amended Constitution.