Former President Goodluck Jonathan
The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled Friday, May 8, 2026, for the hearing of a lawsuit seeking to disqualify former President Goodluck Jonathan from participating in the 2027 presidential election.
The suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025), filed by legal practitioner Johnmary Jideobi, contends that Jonathan is constitutionally barred from seeking another term in office. Justice Peter Lifu fixed the date after previously ordering that hearing notices be served to the defendants—including Jonathan, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Attorney-General of the Federation—following their failure to file initial responses.
Key Constitutional Arguments
The plaintiff’s case rests on the interpretation of the 1999 Constitution regarding term limits. Central to the legal challenge are the following points:
Section 137(3) Interpretation: The plaintiff argues that under the combined provisions of Sections 1 and 137(3), a person who has already taken the presidential oath of office twice is ineligible for a third term.
The Tenure Timeline: The suit highlights that Jonathan was first sworn in on May 6, 2010, to complete the unexpired term of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He subsequently won the 2011 general election and served a full four-year term.
Term Exhaustion: The plaintiff asserts that by completing Yar’Adua’s tenure and serving his own elected term, Jonathan has effectively exhausted the constitutional limit.
Reliefs Sought
The originating summons asks the court for a definitive declaration on Jonathan’s eligibility. Specifically, the plaintiff is seeking:
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A Restraining Order: To prevent Goodluck Jonathan from presenting himself as a candidate to any political party for the 2027 polls.
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An Injunction Against INEC: To stop the electoral body from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
Public Interest and Legal Integrity
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Emmanuel Agida stated that the legal action was prompted by widespread reports suggesting the former president might enter the 2027 race. The affidavit emphasizes that the suit was filed in the "public interest" to uphold the "supremacy of the Constitution" and ensure the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic transition.
If the court rules in favor of the plaintiff, it would reinforce the 2018 constitutional amendment which stipulates that a person who succeeds a president to complete their term cannot be elected to the office more than once. However, the legal community remains divided on whether this amendment can be applied retrospectively to Jonathan’s previous service.