The Federal High Court in Abuja, has been asked, by one Johnmary Jideobi, to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining former President Goodluck Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in the country for the purpose of contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The trial court was also urged to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from accepting Jonathan’s name from any political party, or publishing same as a duly nominated candidate for the presidential contest.
Specifically, the suit, was brought to determine whether in view of the combined provisions of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and their conflated interpretation, if Jonathan is eligible, under any circumstances [whatsoever] to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Other defendants in the suit are INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation, listed as 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
The plaintiff, Jideobi, sought among others, “a declaration of this Honourable Court that upon an intimate reading and complete understanding of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended the first Defendant [GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN] is ineligible to stand for or occupy the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Another reads, “A declaration of this Honorable Court that in view of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended the 2nd Defendant [the INEC] lacks the constitutional power to receive from any political party the name of the first defendant or publish same as the candidate of any political party for the election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.
The plaintiff sought an order of perpetual injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the first Defendant [Goodluck Ebele Jonathan] from presenting himself to any political party in Nigeria for nomination as its candidate for the general election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.
He contended that if the 1st defendant, Jonathan, wins the 2027 presidential election, which is for a term of 4 years spanning 2027 to 2031, he would have exceeded 8 years being the cumulative maximum years a Nigerian President is statutorily permitted to stay in office.
No date has however been fixed to look into the originating summons.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
