Lawyer Seeks Court Order to Bar Jonathan from Contesting 2027 Presidential Election

A lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, has filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 presidential election. In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, Jideobi is asking the court to restrain Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination and to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing his name as a candidate in the forthcoming election.

The defendants in the case are Jonathan, INEC, and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). The plaintiff argues that based on the provisions of Sections 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan is ineligible to seek or occupy the office of President again under any circumstance. He contends that Jonathan, having completed the unexpired tenure of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010 and subsequently served a full term after winning the 2011 election, has already reached the constitutional limit of two terms as president.

In his supporting affidavit, Jideobi said he was prompted to file the suit after seeing media reports suggesting that Jonathan may be considering a 2027 presidential run. He maintained that allowing the former president to contest again would amount to a breach of the Constitution, as it would mean he would be taking the oath of office for a third time if elected.

The lawyer emphasized that his action is motivated by a duty to uphold the Constitution and prevent any potential violation of its provisions. He described himself as an advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law, asserting that the Federal Republic of Nigeria must be governed strictly in accordance with the Constitution.

Jideobi is asking the court to declare that INEC lacks the constitutional power to receive or publish Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate in any election, including that of 2027, and to issue an order restraining the electoral body and any political party from recognizing or nominating him.

The case is expected to test once again the interpretation of Section 137(3) of the Constitution, which bars anyone who has completed another person’s presidential term from being elected more than once to the same office.