BREAKING: Court affirms Jonathan’s eligibility to contest 2027 presidency

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ruled that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Justice Peter Lifu dismissed a suit filed by Johnmary Jideobi seeking to stop Jonathan from presenting himself as a candidate for the presidential poll.

The plaintiff had also asked the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting, processing or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.

Jideobi urged the court to determine whether Jonathan could seek the office again in view of Sections 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution.

Delivering judgment, Justice Lifu held that Jonathan remained qualified to participate in the election, noting that both a Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal had earlier affirmed his eligibility to contest.

The judge said he was bound by the decisions of the appellate court and described the suit as an abuse of court process. He further held that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing to institute the action because he had not suffered any injury arising from Jonathan’s perceived ambition to contest the election.

The court also awarded N20 million damages against Jideobi in favour of the former president and another N1 million in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation. Justice Lifu equally dismissed the plaintiff’s application seeking his withdrawal from the matter, describing it as frivolous.

Last week, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki granted Jonathan a waiver and endorsed him as the party’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 election.