A Federal High Court in Abuja is set to hear a suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, amid renewed debate over constitutional term limits and speculation about his possible political return.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to declare Jonathan constitutionally ineligible to seek the presidency again.
Jonathan is listed as the first defendant in the suit, while the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation are named as second and third defendants respectively.
The plaintiff is seeking an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate in the 2027 election. He is also asking the court to stop INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
Jideobi asked the court to determine whether, based on the provisions of Sections 1 and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan is eligible under any circumstances to contest again for the office of president.
According to the plaintiff, Jonathan had already exhausted the constitutional limit for the office after completing the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua following his death in 2010 and later serving another full term after winning the 2011 presidential election.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Emmanuel Agida, who deposed on behalf of the plaintiff, said reports suggesting Jonathan may contest in 2027 prompted the legal action.
“The plaintiff believes that the 1st defendant, having completed the unexpired term of late President Yar’Adua and subsequently served a full term after the 2011 election, has exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures as president,” the affidavit stated.