A fresh legal action has been instituted before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The suit, filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, is praying the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination as a presidential candidate.
The plaintiff is also asking the court to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
While Jonathan is listed as the 1st defendant, INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) are cited as the 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, is asking the court to determine: “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 the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Upon determination of the question, the plaintiff seeks the following principal reliefs:
A declaration that Jonathan is constitutionally ineligible to contest or occupy the office of the President again, having already held the position.
A declaration that INEC lacks the power to accept or publish Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate in 2027 or any future election.
An order of perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination as a presidential candidate.
An order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate in any future election.
An order directing the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure compliance with any decision or orders of the court.
In an affidavit deposed to by Emmanuel Agida, the plaintiff described himself as an advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law.
He argued that allowing Jonathan to contest again would violate the constitutional limit of two presidential terms.
According to him, if the former president wins the 2027 election and serves another four-year term, he would have exceeded the maximum eight years permitted under the 1999 Constitution.