A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday affirmed the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the court dismissed a suit filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi seeking to stop Jonathan from participating in the race, describing the action as an abuse of court process.
The judge held that both the Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal had earlier ruled on Jonathan’s eligibility, adding that the appellate court’s decision remained binding.
Justice Lifu further ruled that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing to institute the suit, noting that he failed to demonstrate any personal loss or injury arising from Jonathan’s alleged ambition to contest the election.
The court upheld a N20 million fine earlier imposed on the lawyer and also awarded an additional N1 million cost in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The legal controversy surrounding former President Goodluck Jonathan stems from the interpretation of Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), introduced after the Fourth Alteration Act.
The provision states that a person who has been sworn in twice as President shall not be eligible to contest the office again. The debate has centred on whether Jonathan’s assumption of office following the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010 should count as a full presidential term.
Jonathan first assumed office as President in May 2010 after serving as Vice President under Yar’Adua.
He subsequently won the 2011 presidential election and completed a full four-year tenure before losing his re-election bid in 2015 to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Opponents of a possible Jonathan comeback have argued that his completion of Yar’Adua’s tenure and subsequent elected term amount to two terms in office, thereby disqualifying him from future presidential contests.
However, supporters maintain that Jonathan was only elected once as President and that the constitutional amendment was primarily designed to prevent vice presidents or deputy governors who complete substantial parts of a predecessor’s tenure from exceeding constitutional term limits after being elected twice.
The issue has repeatedly surfaced ahead of election cycles, particularly amid recurring calls from political groups urging Jonathan to return to the presidential race. Previous rulings by courts in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal had already affirmed his constitutional eligibility to contest again — decisions the Abuja Federal High Court relied upon in dismissing the latest suit.
