The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election, ruling that there is no legal impediment preventing him from seeking a return to the presidency.
In the judgment delivered today, March 26, 2025. Justice Peter Lifu dismissed the suit filed against the former president by an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Mr. Jideobi Johnmary, describing it as frivolous and an abuse of court process. The court further ruled that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute the action.
Justice Lifu noted that the issue of Jonathan’s eligibility had already been settled by the Court of Appeal.
The plaintiff had challenged Jonathan’s eligibility in suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, arguing that having been sworn in as president on two previous occasions—first to complete the unexpired term of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and subsequently for a full term after the 2011 election—Jonathan had exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures.
The plaintiff had sought a perpetual injunction to restrain Jonathan from presenting himself for nomination by any political party, and to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing his name as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
In the affidavit of facts deposed by Emmanuel Agida, the plaintiff contended that if Jonathan were to win the 2027 election, he would be taking the oath of office for the third time, thereby breaching the constitutional provision that limits a Nigerian president to a cumulative maximum of eight years in office.
However, with this ruling, the court has cleared the legal path for the former president regarding his constitutional eligibility to participate in the upcoming 2027 general elections.
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