Jonathan Moves to Stop Suit Seeking to Bar Him from 2027 Presidential Race

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has challenged a suit seeking to prevent him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Jonathan, through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), informed the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday that the former president had filed processes opposing the case instituted against him.

The matter came up before Justice Peter Lifu.

According to Uche, Jonathan’s legal team filed a conditional appearance, preliminary objection, counter-affidavit, and written address on May 5, urging the court to dismiss the suit.

He told the court that the former president only became aware of the case through media reports and moved swiftly to respond because of the implications for his political eligibility ahead of the 2027 elections.

The senior advocate argued that the issue raised in the suit had already been settled by the courts, noting that earlier decisions of the Federal High Court had been upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Uche described it as unfortunate that the suit was filed by a legal practitioner despite existing judicial pronouncements on the matter.

Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that the case was scheduled for mention and that he had only just been served with Jonathan’s legal processes.

He requested additional time to study and respond to the filings.

Following the submissions, Justice Lifu adjourned the matter to May 11 at 2 p.m. for hearing of the preliminary objection and the substantive suit.

The court also ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation, who were absent from proceedings.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi.

In the suit, Jideobi asked the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a presidential candidate in the 2027 election.

He also sought an order barring INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a duly nominated candidate of any political party.

Jonathan was listed as the first defendant in the case, while INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation were joined as second and third defendants respectively.