A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned until May 11, 2026, a suit seeking to disqualify former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu granted the adjournment after the plaintiff’s counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that he was only recently served with a preliminary objection filed by the defence and required additional time to respond.
The suit, filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, asks the court to determine whether Jonathan is eligible to run for president again under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The plaintiff is seeking declarations that Jonathan is constitutionally barred from contesting, an order restraining him from presenting himself as a candidate to any political party, and a directive preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing his name as a presidential candidate for 2027.
At the heart of the matter is the interpretation of Section 137(3) of the Constitution. The plaintiff argues that Jonathan has exhausted his constitutional limit, having served the remainder of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s term after his death in 2010 and then a full four-year term after winning the 2011 election.
Allowing him to contest again would mean taking the presidential oath for a third time, which the suit contends is prohibited.
During Friday’s proceedings, counsel to Jonathan, Chris Uche (SAN), told the court he only became aware of the suit through media reports and was working to file all necessary processes.
He also referenced previous court decisions on similar issues and questioned why the eligibility controversy had resurfaced.
INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation, listed as respondents, were not represented in court. Justice Lifu ordered that proper hearing notices be served on all parties before the next date.
The case has generated significant legal and political debate amid reports that Jonathan may be considering a return to the presidency in 2027. The matter will come up again on Monday, May 11, 2026.
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