By Muhammad Mamman
A former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami (retd), has provided a detailed legal explanation on why former President Goodluck Jonathan cannot contest in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, laying to rest renewed public debate over his eligibility.
Justice Salami explained that the constitutional amendment enacted after Jonathan’s tenure in 2018 clearly bars anyone who has previously been sworn in as President to complete another person’s term and subsequently served a full four-year term from seeking re-election.
According to Salami, Jonathan’s succession to the presidency in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua — and his subsequent victory in the 2011 election — means he has already served more than one full term as defined by the Constitution.
“The law is unambiguous,” the retired jurist said. “A person who has taken the oath of office as President twice, whether by election or by constitutional succession, is ineligible to contest again. It’s not about sentiment or popularity; it’s purely a matter of constitutional interpretation.”
He cited Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which stipulates that anyone who has completed two oaths of office as President cannot be sworn in a third time. “That provision was specifically designed to prevent a situation like this from reoccurring,” Salami added.
The clarification follows growing speculation in political circles that Jonathan might stage a comeback in 2027 under a coalition arrangement, with some of his supporters arguing that the 2018 amendment should not apply retroactively.
However, Justice Salami dismissed such arguments as “a misreading of the law,” noting that constitutional provisions concerning eligibility are forward-looking and apply to all future elections unless explicitly exempted.
Political analysts say Salami’s interpretation could effectively end ongoing lobbying within some factions of the political elite who have been pushing for Jonathan’s return, particularly as the 2027 race begins to take shape.
While Jonathan himself has not publicly declared any political ambition, his recent high-profile meetings and diplomatic engagements have fuelled speculation about his possible re-entry into the political scene.
With the legal position now clarified by one of Nigeria’s most respected judicial voices, observers say the debate may shift from constitutional arguments to questions about succession, power rotation, and the future direction of the ruling party ahead of 2027.
