The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 26 for judgment in a suit challenging the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu adjourned for judgment on Monday after all parties in the case adopted their final written addresses.
While the Attorney-General of the Federation, who is a defendant in the matter, sided with ex-President Jonathan in urging the court to dismiss the case, the Independent National Electoral Commission did not participate in the proceedings, as it had no legal representation in court.
Both the AGF and Jonathan also requested the court to impose substantial costs on the plaintiff, an Abuja-based legal practitioner.
They further opposed an application seeking the judge’s recusal over alleged bias.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, raised a single issue for determination, “Whether in view of the combined provisions of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and their conflated interpretation, the 1st Defendant is eligible, under any circumstances [whatsoever] to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”
Following the determination of the issue, the plaintiff sought several reliefs, including, “An order of perpetual injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the first Defendant [Goodluck Ebele Jonathan] from presenting himself to any political party in Nigeria for nomination as its candidate for the general election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, holding in 2027 and other years to come.
“An order of perpetual injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the 2nd Defendant [INEC] from either accepting from any political party in Nigeria the name of the 1st Defendant [Goodluck Ebele Jonathan] or publishing same as a candidate for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.”
The plaintiff also requested “an order of this Honourable Court directing the 3rd Defendant [Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation] to ensure compliance with the decisions and Orders of this court.”
In an affidavit supporting the suit, deposed to by Emmanuel Agida, the plaintiff argued that if the former president were to win the 2027 election, he would exceed the constitutionally permitted maximum of eight years in office, counting his previous tenure.
He stated that “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.”
He further warned that “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.”
He added that “In the event the 1st defendant is returned as elected and sworn as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come in 2027, it will mark the 3rd time the 1st defendant will be taking the oath of office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,”
Justice Lifu also noted that his ruling on preliminary objections raised in the matter would be delivered alongside the final judgment.
