Former President Goodluck Jonathan has formally challenged a lawsuit seeking to stop him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The matter came up on Friday before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Jonathan’s legal team asked the court to dismiss the case filed against him.
Jonathan’s lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told the court that the former president had already filed several legal processes in response to the suit.
According to him, the defence entered a conditional appearance and submitted a preliminary objection, counter affidavit and written address challenging the case.
Uche explained that Jonathan only became aware of the suit through media reports, forcing his legal team to act quickly because of the weight of the issues raised in the case.
The senior advocate argued that the matter was surprising because courts had previously ruled on similar issues concerning Jonathan’s eligibility to seek office again.
He maintained that the suit lacked merit and should not proceed further.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, however, told the court that he had just been served with Jonathan’s court documents and needed time to study and respond to them.
Justice James Lifu adjourned a suit seeking to bar Goodluck Jonathan from the 2027 presidential election to May 11, 2026. Filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, the suit argues Jonathan is constitutionally ineligible under Section 137’s two-term limit. INEC and the Attorney-General, both absent, will be served hearing notices. The plaintiff wants Jonathan stopped from seeking nomination and INEC barred from accepting him as a candidate. The case follows speculation about Jonathan’s return, with debate over whether completing Yar’Adua’s term counts as a full term. The May 11 hearing could set a key 2027 precedent….See More
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