Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, has argued that it would be unconstitutional for former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest and win the 2027 presidential election, according to a report by Daily Post on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
Okutepa explained that the 1999 Constitution sets a clear limit of two terms for any president.
He said Jonathan has already spent six years in office, and another four years would take his total tenure to ten years, which is above the constitutional limit of eight years.
Okutepa reminded Nigerians that Jonathan first became president in 2010 after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
He completed the remaining two years of that tenure.
Later, Jonathan contested the 2011 election and served a full four-year term.
The lawyer insisted that the Constitution and Supreme Court rulings prevent anyone from staying in office beyond two terms of four years each.
He referred to the case of Marwa vs Nyako, where the apex court held that no governor or president should exceed the set tenure.
Okutepa also pointed to the Fourth Alteration Act of 2018, which was passed by the National Assembly to clarify such matters.
According to him, the amendment clearly states that anyone who completes the tenure of another president can only seek election for one term afterward.
He recalled that he had raised the same concern in 2013 when Jonathan sought re-election in 2015.
He said his argument has remained consistent because the Constitution has not changed on the matter.
Okutepa explained that allowing Jonathan to run again in 2027 would create a situation where the constitutional time frame for presidency is breached.
He stressed that the Constitution is firm on tenure and cannot be altered by political convenience.
“He served six years plus four years, making a period of 10 years. It will be contrary to constitution if former President Goodluck Jonathan wins in 2027 presidential election,” he said. See, More, Here>>>>
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