BREAKING: Court Asked to Bar Goodluck Jonathan from Contesting 2027 Presidential Election

In a fresh twist ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday is seeking a perpetual injunction to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting for president again under any political party.

The legal action also demands that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be restrained from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate should any political party attempt to nominate him.

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Details of the Suit

The plaintiffs, whose identities remain undisclosed at the time of this report, are urging the court to rule that Jonathan is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election, having already served one full term from 2011 to 2015, after completing the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

They argue that allowing Jonathan to contest again would violate constitutional provisions on term limits for the office of the President of Nigeria.

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Legal Precedents and Public Reactions

This isn’t the first time Jonathan’s eligibility for re-election has come under legal scrutiny. In the buildup to the 2023 elections, similar debates and lawsuits emerged, though he ultimately did not contest.

Legal analysts say this new case could test the interpretation of Section 137(3) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended), which states that no person who has been elected to the office of President twice shall be eligible for election to that office again.

Public reaction has been mixed:

•⁠ ⁠Supporters of Jonathan argue he is still eligible, citing that he was only elected once, in 2011.
•⁠ ⁠Critics maintain that his initial completion of Yar’Adua’s term and subsequent election already amount to two tenures.

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INEC Yet to Respond

As of press time, INEC has not issued an official statement regarding the suit or its implications for the 2027 election cycle.

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Sele Media Africa will continue to follow this developing story and provide timely updates.

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