Former President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit seeking to disqualify him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Jonathan, through his counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), challenged the competence of the suit shortly after the matter came up before Justice Peter Lifu on Friday.
The former President’s lawyer informed the court that a conditional appearance, notice of preliminary objection, counter-affidavit and written address had been filed on May 5, 2026, urging the court to strike out the case.
Uche said Jonathan became aware of the suit through media reports, necessitating the urgent filing of legal processes due to the weighty constitutional issues surrounding the former President’s eligibility to contest the next election.
The senior advocate described the suit as unfortunate, arguing that the issues raised had already been determined by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
“It is unfortunate that a lawyer would bring such an action when the issue has been settled up to the Court of Appeal,” he submitted.
Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, told the court that the matter was slated for mention and that he had only just been served with Jonathan’s processes in court.
Ukpai requested additional time to respond to the applications filed by the former President.
Justice Lifu subsequently adjourned the matter until May 11 for hearing of Jonathan’s preliminary objection alongside 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 are listed as the second and third defendants respectively, following their absence from proceedings.
The suit was instituted by an Abuja-based lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to restrain Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election on constitutional grounds.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, Jideobi prayed the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction barring Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination as a presidential candidate.
He also urged the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a duly nominated candidate for the election.
