BREAKING: Ex-President Jonathan Dragged to Court Over Bid to Contest in 2027 Election
The Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to issue a perpetual injunction restraining former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 presidential election, PulseNets learnt.
The suit, obtained by PulseNets on Monday, also seeks an order barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate under any political party ahead of the next general elections.
According to court filings, the former president was cited as the first defendant, while INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) were listed as the second and third defendants, respectively.
The case, filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was instituted by a lawyer, Mr. Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, who urged the court to determine whether, under the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Jonathan remains constitutionally eligible to seek the presidency again.
The originating summons posed a central question:
“Whether in view of the combined provisions of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the first defendant is eligible, under any circumstances, to contest for the office of the President.”
Upon resolving this, the plaintiff sought four key reliefs, including a declaration that Jonathan is ineligible to stand for or occupy the office of President, and a perpetual injunction restraining INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a valid nominee for the 2027 general elections.
One of the reliefs also sought an order compelling the Attorney General of the Federation to enforce any decision or directive of the court regarding the matter.
Advocate of Constitutionalism
In an affidavit obtained by PulseNets, Mr. Emmanuel Agida, who deposed to the facts on behalf of the plaintiff, described himself as “an advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law.”
He explained that Jonathan was first sworn in on May 6, 2010, following the death of then-President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and later won a full term in 2011.
Agida told PulseNets that the suit was prompted by “recent reports in national dailies and broadcast media suggesting that the former President might contest the 2027 presidential election.”
He further argued:
“The first defendant, having completed the unexpired term of late President Yar’Adua and served a full four-year term after the 2011 election, has already exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures.”
The plaintiff maintained that without judicial intervention, a political party might unlawfully nominate Jonathan in 2027, thereby “breaching the constitution and undermining democratic principles.”
On Legal Standing
Mr. Jideobi told PulseNets that as a constitutional lawyer, it is part of his professional duty “to forestall violations of the constitution and uphold the rule of law.”
He added:
“If unchallenged, the first defendant may contest and possibly win the 2027 presidential election. This would make it the third time he would take the oath of office as President — a clear breach of Section 137(3) of the Constitution.”
He also emphasised that the Nigerian Constitution expressly limits any person who has previously completed another President’s term to only one subsequent election into the office.
“As someone trained in constitutional law, I know the Constitution forbids any individual from being sworn in more than twice as President. The 1st defendant, having been sworn in in 2010 and again in 2011, has reached that constitutional limit,” the affidavit read in part.
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The suit, filed in the public interest, seeks to “preserve the integrity of the Nigerian constitutional order” and ensure that no one assumes presidential power contrary to the nation’s supreme law.
“This case is instituted in the defence of the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution,” the affidavit concluded.
As at press time, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the matter.
