The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned a suit seeking to restrain former President, Goodluck Jonathan, from contesting the 2027 presidential election till May 8 for hearing.
The matter, which came up for mention, was adjourned by Justice Peter Lifu, who also directed that hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.
The judge noted that the defendants were yet to file their counter-affidavits and ordered that all necessary processes be served ahead of the next hearing date.
The suit was instituted by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, who is seeking a perpetual injunction to stop Jonathan from participating in the 2027 presidential election.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, the plaintiff argued that the former president is constitutionally barred from contesting again.
He urged the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a candidate for the election.
The plaintiff also joined INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation as defendants in the case.
Jideobi, citing Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, asked the court to determine whether Jonathan is eligible to contest for the presidency again.
According to him, “having completed the unexpired term of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and subsequently served a full term after the 2011 election, [he] has exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures as President.”
The plaintiff told the court that there were indications that Jonathan might contest the 2027 election, warning that failure to act could lead to a constitutional breach.
“If the court does not intervene timeously, a political party may present the 1st defendant as its presidential candidate in the 2027 general election,” he said.
In an affidavit deposed to by Emmanuel Agida, the plaintiff maintained that the suit was filed in the public interest to uphold the rule of law.
He argued that allowing Jonathan to contest and possibly win the election would result in him taking the oath of office for a third time, which he said would violate constitutional limits.
“The plaintiff has instituted this suit in the public interest, in the defence of the rule of law and accentuation of the supremacy of the Constitution,” the affidavit read.
Justice Lifu subsequently adjourned the matter to May 8 for hearing.
