A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 26 for judgment in a suit challenging the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu fixed the date on Monday after all parties adopted their briefs of argument in the matter.
While the Attorney-General of the Federation aligned with Jonathan in seeking the dismissal of the suit, the Independent National Electoral Commission was absent from proceedings and had no legal representation in court.
Both the AGF and Jonathan also opposed a motion seeking the judge’s recusal over allegations of bias, urging the court to dismiss the suit and award substantial costs against the plaintiff, an Abuja-based lawyer.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, seeks a judicial interpretation of constitutional provisions relating to presidential term limits.
The plaintiff asked the court to determine whether, under Sections 1(1), (2) and (3) as well as Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan is eligible to contest for the office of President again under any circumstance.
Among the reliefs sought, the plaintiff requested an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a presidential candidate in the 2027 election or any future election.
The suit also seeks an order barring INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate for future presidential elections.