Court adjourns suit challenging Jonathan’s 2027 eligibility till May 26

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 26, for judgment in a suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Justice Peter Lifu scheduled the judgment date on Monday after lawyers representing the parties adopted their processes and argued their positions before the court.

The suit was filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to restrain Jonathan from participating in the 2027 presidential race. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation were also joined in the suit as defendants.

At Monday’s proceedings, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court of a motion seeking the judge’s withdrawal from the case over alleged bias.

Ukpai told the court that the motion, dated May 11, had already been filed and urged the judge to grant the application.

However, counsel to the former president, Chris Uche (SAN), opposed the request, describing it as “frivolous, baseless and founded on gross misrepresentation.”

“In opposition, we filed a counter-affidavit of five paragraphs on May 12. We want my lord to rely on the record of this honourable court, which has entirely dismissed the plaintiff’s entire claims as false and perjury,” Uche argued.

He urged the court to dismiss the application, describing it as an abuse of court process.

Also opposing the motion, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, represented by Maimuna Lami-Shiru, argued that a judge could only recuse himself where circumstances may affect impartiality.

“This court can only recuse itself from a suit where the facts and events may affect the impartiality and ability to do justice in the case,” she said.