RismadarVoice Reporters, May 8, 2026
A Federal High Court in Abuja is set to hear a suit seeking to prevent former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The case, scheduled for hearing on Friday, was instituted by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to declare Jonathan constitutionally ineligible to seek the presidency again.
The plaintiff is seeking an order restraining the former president from presenting himself as a candidate under any political party for the 2027 election. The suit also asks the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
Also joined in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The legal challenge centres on the interpretation of Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which deals with presidential term limits. The plaintiff argues that Jonathan, who completed the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s tenure in 2010 before winning election for a full term in 2011, would exceed the constitutional limit if allowed to contest and potentially serve again.
Jonathan assumed office in May 2010 following Yar’Adua’s death and later won the 2011 presidential election. He served until 2015 after losing re-election to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The development comes amid renewed speculation over Jonathan’s possible return to frontline politics ahead of the 2027 elections. Although he has not formally declared interest in the race, the former president recently said he would “consult widely” regarding calls for him to contest.
A similar legal challenge was filed ahead of the 2023 elections, but a Federal High Court in Bayelsa dismissed the case, ruling that the constitutional provision could not be applied retroactively against Jonathan.
