Former President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to appear before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday over a lawsuit seeking to bar him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who argued that Jonathan is constitutionally ineligible to seek the presidency again.
According to the plaintiff, Jonathan has already exhausted the constitutional limit of two presidential tenures.
Jideobi argued that the former president first completed the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua following his death in 2010 and later served a full term after winning the 2011 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu had on April 28 ordered that hearing notices be served on the defendants after they failed to file responses within the stipulated period.
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 asking the court to restrain Jonathan from presenting himself as a candidate to any political party for the 2027 election.
He also urged the court to stop INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
An affidavit supporting the suit, deposed to by Emmanuel Agida, stated that Jonathan assumed office on May 6, 2010, after Yar’Adua died a day earlier.
According to the affidavit, reports suggesting Jonathan may contest in 2027 prompted the legal action.
“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.
Meanwhile, sources told SaharaReporters that Jonathan may not only appear in court on Friday but could also formally declare his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.
According to the sources, the former president is expected to announce the political platform he intends to use for the race.
“GEJ is planning to appear in court tomorrow, Friday, over a lawsuit seeking to bar him from contesting after which he will declare his presidential ambition and party platform that he intends to use,” a source was quoted as saying.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president between 2011 and 2015 under the Peoples Democratic Party, recently gave his clearest indication yet about a possible return to active presidential politics.
Speaking to a group of youths who urged him to contest, the former president said he would consult widely before making a decision.
“Presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you, and I’ll consult widely. But the most important thing is in Nigeria, that the young people will have hope,” Jonathan said.
