By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 26, 2026, to deliver judgment in a suit challenging former President Goodluck Jonathan’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu scheduled the date on Monday after parties in the matter adopted their final written addresses.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was filed by an Abuja-based lawyer who is asking the court to determine whether Jonathan can legally seek another term as president under the 1999 Constitution.
The plaintiff argued that Jonathan had already exhausted the constitutional limit for occupying the office, having completed the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s tenure before winning the 2011 presidential election for a full four-year term.
According to the plaintiff, a fresh victory in 2027 would amount to Jonathan taking the presidential oath for a third time, contrary to constitutional provisions limiting a president to a maximum of eight years in office.
The suit specifically seeks a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination as a presidential candidate in 2027 or any future election.
It also asks the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
During proceedings, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), listed as a defendant in the matter, aligned with Jonathan and urged the court to dismiss the suit.
Both Jonathan and the AGF also opposed an application seeking the judge’s recusal over alleged bias and asked the court to award substantial costs against the plaintiff.
INEC, however, was absent from the proceedings and had no legal representation in court.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, the plaintiff maintained that allowing Jonathan to contest would breach Sections 1 and 137(3) of the Constitution.
Justice Lifu said all pending objections would be determined alongside the final judgment on May 26.
In a related development, emerging reports show that Goodluck Jonathan is set to be screened by factional leadership of the PDP as the sole aspirant to contest in 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, citizens are on the lookout whether Jonathan is much needed at this time to replace Tinubu whose administration is not comfortable with Nigerians.
