Suit Seeking to Stop Jonathan’s 2027 Presidential Bid Stalls Again in Court

A lawsuit seeking to prevent former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election was stalled again on Friday at the Federal High Court.

The case, filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, is being heard by Justice Peter Odo Lifu. However, proceedings could not continue because the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was absent from court and had no legal representative present.

INEC had also failed to appear at the previous hearing on May 11.

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, listed as the third defendant in the suit, also told the court that it had not been served with the originating summons. As a result, it said it could not file a response or formally enter an appearance in the matter.

Justice Lifu said the case had to be adjourned in the interest of fair hearing and justice.

The court then fixed May 18 for definite hearing and directed the plaintiff to ensure that all court processes and hearing notices are properly served on the necessary parties.

At the previous sitting on May 11, the matter had also failed to proceed after the plaintiff and his lawyer were absent from court without explanation. INEC and the Attorney General’s office were also not present at that hearing.

Following the plaintiff’s absence at the earlier sitting, Jonathan’s lawyer, Chris Uche, SAN, had asked the court to strike out the case for lack of diligent prosecution. He also requested a ?5 million cost against the plaintiff.

In the main suit, Jideobi is asking the court to stop Jonathan from presenting himself as a presidential aspirant under any political party ahead of the 2027 elections.

He is also seeking an order restraining INEC from accepting, processing, or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.

The plaintiff wants the court to determine whether Jonathan is still eligible to contest for president under Sections 1(1), 1(2), 1(3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution.

According to the suit, Jonathan had already reached the constitutional limit after completing the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010 and later serving a full four-year term after winning the 2011 presidential election.

In a supporting affidavit, Emmanuel Agida stated that Jonathan became president on May 6, 2010, following Yar’Adua’s death. He said reports suggesting Jonathan may contest in 2027 prompted the legal action.

The plaintiff argued that if Jonathan is allowed to contest and win, he would take the presidential oath of office for a third time, which he claimed would violate the Constitution.

He maintained that the suit was filed in the public interest to uphold constitutional supremacy and protect Nigeria’s democratic system.