A Federal High Court in Abuja is set to hear a suit today seeking to prevent former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, amid renewed arguments over constitutional term limits and speculation about his possible return to active politics.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was instituted by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is urging the court to declare President Goodluck Jonathan constitutionally barred from seeking the presidency again.
Justice Peter Lifu had, on April 28, directed that hearing notices be issued and served on all defendants after some parties failed to file their responses.
President Goodluck Jonathan is listed as the first defendant, 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 to any political party as a presidential candidate in 2027, and to also bar the electoral body from accepting or publishing his name as a contender.
Jideobi is urging the court to resolve “whether in view of the combined provisions of sections 1(1), (2) and (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the 1st defendant is eligible, under any circumstances whatsoever, to contest for the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
He argued that Jonathan has already exhausted the constitutional limit, having completed the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua after his death in 2010 and later served a full four-year term following his victory in the 2011 election.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Emmanuel Agida, who deposed on behalf of the plaintiff, said Jonathan’s alleged interest in the 2027 race triggered the legal action.
“That 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 read.
The plaintiff further argued that if Jonathan is allowed to contest and possibly win again, it would amount to a third presidential oath of office.
“That if the court does not intervene timeously, a political party may present the 1st defendant as its presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, thereby breaching the constitution,” the affidavit added.
The case comes as President Jonathan has recently urged young Nigerians to participate more actively in elections, stressing the importance of peaceful democratic processes.
Speaking at a public event, the former president expressed concern about voter apathy in Nigeria.
“I have observed elections in about 14 or more African countries. In some, I have been there two times, and even in South East Asia, Nigeria has the lowest turnout in every election cycle,” he said.
He also linked Nigeria’s economic and migration challenges to years of weak leadership and poor long-term planning, urging leaders to build systems that benefit future generations.
“These countries people travel abroad to enjoy did not become like that overnight. Leaders after leaders planned for their grandchildren and built their countries,” he said.
However, President Jonathan did not directly address growing speculation about a possible bid for the 2027 presidential election.
