A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit seeking to disqualify former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, affirming his constitutional eligibility to seek another term.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, Justice Peter Lifu dismissed the suit for lacking merit, describing it as an attempt to re-litigate an issue already settled by the judiciary. The court subsequently imposed a fine of N20 million on the plaintiff, Abuja-based lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, to be paid to the former President for filing a “frivolous” suit.
Justice Lifu held that previous judgments by the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, which were later upheld by the Court of Appeal, had already resolved the question of Jonathan’s eligibility. The court maintained that these judicial precedents remain the standing law regarding the former President’s right to contest.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, had sought a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party and stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting his nomination.
Reacting to the suit during the proceedings, Jonathan’s lead counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), described the legal challenge as “unnecessary and legally defective.” He argued that the plaintiff was wasting the court’s time on a matter that had reached finality at the appellate level. Uche further noted that his team only became aware of the suit through media reports and moved quickly to file a preliminary objection to protect the ex-president’s rights.
While the plaintiff’s counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, requested more time to respond to Jonathan’s counter-affidavit, Justice Lifu proceeded to deliver judgment based on the merit of the constitutional questions raised.
The ruling comes amid a cleared as a candidate of the PDP,” Aliyu stated during the party’s screening exercise at the Transcorp Hilton.
Jonathan, who has faced increasing pressure from youth groups to return to the Aso Rock Villa, recently addressed supporters with caution, noting that a “presidential race is not a computer game” and required wide consultation.
With this legal victory and the PDP’s consensus backing, the path appears clear for the former President should he decide to formally announce a comeback bid for the 2027 general elections.
