A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election to May 11, 2026.
The trial judge Justice Peter Lifu adjourned at the instance of the plaintiff after his lawyer Ndubuisi Ukpai, told the court that he was just recently served a preliminary Objection by the defendant and would need time to respond.
Counsel for the Jonathan Chris Uche, SAN, told the court that he only heard about the matter in the media, and worked tirelessly to ensure that all processes required on the part of the first defendant is made available to the court.
The senior lawyer also stated that similar matter has been determined by the same court and also by the court of appeal, questioning reasons why the matter continues to reoccur.
The Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney General of the Federation, who are the second and third respondents respectively, were not represented in court.
After listening to lawyers in the matter, the trial court adjourned the suit and ordered that all parties be properly served hearing notices before the next adjourned date.
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The suit was filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to declare Jonathan constitutionally ineligible to seek the presidency again.
Justice Peter Lifu had, on April 28, ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants, following the failure of some parties to file their responses.
The plaintiff is seeking an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate in the 2027 election, as well as an order barring INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a presidential candidate.
Jideobi asked the court to determine “whether in view of the combined provisions of sections 1(1), (2) and (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the 1st defendant is eligible, under any circumstances whatsoever, to contest for the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
The plaintiff argued that Jonathan had exhausted the constitutional limit for the office, having completed the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua after his death in 2010 and subsequently serving another full term following the 2011 election.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Emmanuel Agida, who deposed on behalf of the plaintiff, said Jonathan’s reported interest in the 2027 election prompted the legal action.
The plaintiff further argued that allowing Jonathan to contest and possibly win the election would amount to him taking the presidential oath for a third time.
Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie
