The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the court held that there was no constitutional barrier preventing Jonathan from seeking a return to the presidency.
Justice Lifu further ruled that the issue surrounding Jonathan’s eligibility had already been settled by the Court of Appeal, thereby dismissing the fresh suit challenging his possible candidacy.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Mr. Jideobi Johnmary, who argued that Jonathan was constitutionally barred from contesting because he had already taken the presidential oath of office on two separate occasions.
The plaintiff asked the court to determine whether, based on Sections 1 and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan could still legally seek the office of president.
He also sought an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination in the 2027 election and requested that Independent National Electoral Commission be stopped from accepting or publishing his name as a presidential candidate.
Additionally, the suit sought an order directing the Attorney-General of the Federation to enforce any judgment delivered by the court.
However, Justice Lifu dismissed the suit, describing it as frivolous and an abuse of court process.
The court also held that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing, known as locus standi, required to institute the action.
According to the affidavit supporting the suit, the plaintiff argued that if Jonathan contested and won the 2027 election, he would exceed the constitutional limit of eight years in office because he completed the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s tenure before winning the 2011 presidential election.
The plaintiff further argued that another inauguration in 2027 would amount to Jonathan taking the presidential oath for a third time.
Despite those arguments, the court maintained that the matter had already been addressed in earlier appellate decisions and therefore could not be reopened through the present suit.
The ruling is expected to reignite political discussions about Jonathan’s possible role in the 2027 elections, especially amid ongoing coalition talks and realignments within opposition politics.
What You Should Know
Goodluck Jonathan became Nigeria’s president in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later won the 2011 presidential election.
He served until 2015 after losing re-election to the APC candidate, Muhammadu Buhari. Since leaving office, there have been recurring speculations about a possible political comeback, with supporters occasionally urging him to return to active presidential politics.
The latest court ruling removes a legal obstacle that could have complicated such ambitions.
