RismadarVoice Reporters, May 26, 2026
The Peoples Democratic Party has welcomed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja affirming the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued on Monday, and signed by the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party described the ruling as being in line with the law and democratic principles, stressing that laws cannot operate retroactively.
The PDP said the judgment confirmed that Jonathan remains constitutionally qualified to seek the presidency despite previously taking the oath of office as president twice.
“The Peoples Democratic Party has welcomed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, which held that President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest for the Presidency, despite having previously sworn to the oath of office of the President twice,” the statement read.
According to the party, the suit challenging Jonathan’s eligibility was unnecessary and amounted to a misuse of judicial processes.
The PDP described the case as “vexatious” and “a gross abuse of court processes,” adding that it should never have been instituted in the first place.
The party also applauded the court’s decision to impose punitive costs against the plaintiff, saying the ruling would discourage individuals and groups seeking to distract the judiciary and undermine democratic processes.
“The punitive cost against the plaintiff is also very much welcomed, to serve as a deterrent to intending busybodies and irritants, who make themselves available for use by those seeking to derail democracy,” the statement added.
The opposition party further stated that the judgment, alongside the screening waiver earlier granted to Jonathan by the party, had effectively cleared the path for his participation in the PDP presidential primary scheduled to hold this weekend.
“This development, coupled with the screening waiver that our party had granted President Goodluck Jonathan, has made the pathway for his presidential rescue mission totally unfettered,” the PDP stated.
