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A legal practitioner, Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent former President Goodluck Jonathan from participating in the 2027 presidential election.
The court has also been asked to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a validly nominated presidential candidate from any political party.
In the legal action filed on Monday, Jonathan was named as the 1st defendant, while INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, were named as the 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
Specifically, the suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025 presents a single legal question for the court’s interpretation:
“Whether in view of the combined provisions of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and their conflated interpretation, the 1st Defendant is eligible, under any circumstances [whatsoever] to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”
Upon resolving this legal question, the claimant is seeking four main reliefs from the court, namely:
“A declaration of this Honourable Court that upon an intimate reading and complete understanding of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended the first Defendant [GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN] is ineligible to stand for or occupy the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“A declaration of this Honorable Court that in view of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the 2nd Defendant [the INEC] lacks the constitutional power to receive from any political party the name of the first defendant or publish same as the candidate of any political party for the election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.
“An order of perpetual injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the first Defendant [Goodluck Ebele Jonathan] from presenting himself to any political party in Nigeria for nomination as its candidate for the general election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, holding in 2027 and other years to come.
“An order of perpetual injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the 2nd Defendant [INEC] from either accepting from any political party in Nigeria the name of the 1st Defendant [Goodluck Ebele Jonathan] or publishing the same as a candidate for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, holding in 2027 and other years to come.
“An order of this Honourable Court directing the 3rd Defendant [Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation] to ensure compliance with the decisions and Orders of this court.”
In an affidavit supporting the case, deposed by one Emmanuel Agida, the claimant informed the court that he advocates for constitutional order and the rule of law.
He argued that if Jonathan were to win the 2027 presidential election—which spans four years from 2027 to 2031—he would exceed the constitutionally permitted eight-year term limit for a Nigerian president.
The claimant said he recently came across multiple reports in national newspapers and on television indicating Jonathan’s interest in contesting the presidency in 2027.
“That the Plaintiff believes that the 1st defendant, having completed the unexpired term of late President Yar’Adua and subsequently served a full term after the 2011 election, has exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures as President.
“That if the court does not intervene timeously, a political party may present the 1st defendant as its presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, thereby breaching the Constitution,” he said.
Regarding his right to institute the legal action, the plaintiff asserted that his duty as a legal practitioner includes preventing constitutional violations and protecting the rule of law.
“There are chances that one of the political parties in Nigeria may favour the 1st defendant to stand as its presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2027 general elections to be conducted and overseen by the 2nd defendant.
“If unchallenged, the 1st defendant may enter the 2027 presidential race on the platform of one of the political parties in Nigeria and may possibly emerge the winner of the said election.”
“In the event the 1st defendant is returned as elected and sworn as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2027, it will mark the 3rd time the 1st defendant will be taking the oath of office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“In the event the 1st defendant is returned as elected and sworn as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2027, the plaintiff, as a Nigerian citizen, would become one of those under the governance control of the 1st defendant [who, by virtue of his office, would be saddled with the responsibility of executing the laws of the country].
“It will be in the interest of justice for this Honourable Court to grant the prayers contained on the face of this Originating Summons,” the affidavit further read.
As of the time of this report, a hearing date for the matter has not yet been scheduled.
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