The Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining former President Goodluck Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for the purpose of contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The suit also seeks to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a duly nominated candidate in the forthcoming election.
While Jonathan is listed as the 1st Defendant, INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation are cited as the 2nd and 3rd Defendants, respectively.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was filed by lawyer Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, who posed a single legal question for the court’s determination:
“Whether, in view of the combined provisions of Sections 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the 1st Defendant is eligible, under any circumstances whatsoever, to contest for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Following this, the plaintiff sought four major reliefs, including:
1. A declaration that, under the provisions of the Constitution, Jonathan is ineligible to contest or occupy the office of President.
2. A declaration that INEC lacks the constitutional power to accept or publish Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate in the 2027 elections or thereafter.
3. An order of perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination.
4. An order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a candidate for the 2027 election.
The plaintiff also asked the court to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure compliance with any judgment or order made in the suit.
In an affidavit supporting the case, Emmanuel Agida, who deposed on behalf of the plaintiff, described Jideobi as an “advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law.”
He explained that Jonathan was first sworn in as President on May 6, 2010, following the death of then-President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on May 5, 2010, having previously served as Vice President.
Agida stated that recent reports of Jonathan’s alleged plan to recontest the presidency in 2027 prompted the legal action.
According to him, allowing Jonathan to contest again would amount to a violation of the constitutional limit of two presidential tenures, given that he completed Yar’Adua’s unexpired term and later served a full term after winning the 2011 election.
“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 read.
The plaintiff argued that if Jonathan were allowed to contest and win the 2027 election, it would mean he had taken the oath of office as President three times, exceeding the constitutional limit.
Jideobi maintained that, as a lawyer, he had a legal and civic duty to prevent any constitutional violation and uphold the rule of law, describing the suit as a public interest action to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic and constitutional order.
No date has yet been fixed for the hearing of the case.