A legal practitioner, Johnmary Jideobi, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order of perpetual injunction to restrain former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election under any political party.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, Jideobi listed Jonathan as the first defendant, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation as the second and third defendants respectively.
The plaintiff is also asking the court to bar INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate for the 2027 election or any future polls.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, deposed to by one Emmanuel Agida, Jideobi 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, as he had already served more than five years in office.
According to him, if Jonathan were to contest and win the 2027 presidential election, which would run from 2027 to 2031, he would exceed the maximum eight-year tenure permitted under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The lawyer urged the court to determine “whether, in view of the combined provisions of Sections 1(1), (2), (3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the first defendant is eligible under any circumstances to contest for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Upon determination of the question, the plaintiff sought four principal reliefs, including:
A declaration that Jonathan is ineligible to contest or occupy the office of President of Nigeria.
A declaration that INEC lacks the power to receive or publish his name as a presidential candidate.
An order of perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from seeking nomination under any political party.
An order restraining INEC from publishing or accepting Jonathan’s name as a candidate in the 2027 or subsequent elections.
He also requested the court to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to enforce compliance with any decision or order made in the matter.
The suit comes amid renewed public calls for Jonathan’s return to the presidency. Recently, former Minister of Information and PDP chieftain, Professor Jerry Gana, suggested that Nigerians, after experiencing the administrations of former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu, now appreciate Jonathan’s leadership and want him back.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) distanced itself from Gana’s statement, clarifying that he lacked the authority to make such declarations on behalf of the party.
The PDP maintained that it has capable leaders and governors from the South who could emerge as presidential candidates in the 2027 elections if they choose to run.
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