A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election, dismissing a suit seeking to bar him from participating in the race.
The suit, filed by Johnmary Jideobi, sought an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself as a candidate for any political party in the 2027 election. The plaintiff also asked the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
The legal challenge followed a decision by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, which reportedly offered Jonathan a waiver as the party’s sole presidential candidate.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu held that Jonathan remained constitutionally qualified to seek the presidency. The judge noted that both a Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal had earlier ruled on the matter in Jonathan’s favour, adding that the appellate court’s decision was binding on him.
Justice Lifu further ruled that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing to institute the case, stating that he failed to show any personal injury or loss arising from Jonathan’s potential candidacy.
Describing the suit as “an abuse of court process,” the judge dismissed Jideobi’s application seeking his withdrawal from the matter, describing it as frivolous.
The court also imposed financial penalties on the plaintiff, awarding ?20 million in damages in favour of Jonathan and an additional ?1 million in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
