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Federal High Court petition challenges Jonathan’s eligibility under constitutional term limits.
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Plaintiff seeks perpetual injunction against Jonathan and INEC for 2027 election.
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Suit claims Jonathan would exceed the eight-year presidential maximum if elected.
Goodluck Jonathan, 2027 presidential election, and Federal High Court injunction were central to a suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday. Lawyer Mr Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi asked the court to permanently restrain the former president from presenting himself to any political party for nomination for the 2027 presidential contest.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, also seeks to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a candidate of any party for the presidential election.
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Jonathan is cited as the first defendant, while INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation are the second and third defendants, respectively.
The plaintiff posed a constitutional question focused on term limits:
“Whether in view of the combined provisions of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and their conflated interpretation, the 1st Defendant is eligible, under any circumstances [whatsoever] to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”
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The suit argues that if Jonathan wins the 2027 election (2027–2031), he would have exceeded eight years in office—the maximum a Nigerian president may legally serve.
Based on that determination, the plaintiff seeks four principal reliefs, including:
A declaration that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is ineligible to stand for or occupy the presidency.
A perpetual injunction restraining him from presenting himself to any political party for nomination for 2027.
A perpetual injunction restraining INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a candidate for the 2027 election.
The court has not yet scheduled a hearing date for the suit.
