From Victor Osula, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned to May 11, 2026, the hearing of a suit seeking to disqualify former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, following applications and procedural developments before the court.
Justice Peter Lifu adjourned the matter after counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that he was only recently served with a preliminary objection filed by the defence and required time to adequately respond.
Ukpai urged the court for an adjournment to enable him to respond to the processes already filed by the defendants.
Counsel to Jonathan, Chris Uche, SAN, told the court that he only became aware of the case through media reports but had since worked to ensure that all necessary legal processes on behalf of the first defendant were properly filed before the court.
The senior lawyer also argued that similar issues raised in the present suit had previously been determined by both the same court and the Court of Appeal, questioning the basis for what he described as a recurring litigation on the same subject matter.
The Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation, who are the second and third respondents in the suit, were not represented in court during the proceedings.
After hearing submissions from counsel, Justice Lifu ordered that all parties be duly served with hearing notices ahead of the next adjourned date and fixed May 11, 2026, for continuation of the hearing.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to declare Jonathan constitutionally ineligible to seek or hold the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria again.
Jideobi is also seeking an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate in the 2027 presidential election, as well as an order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting or publishing his name as a candidate.
The plaintiff is asking the court to interpret Sections 1(1), 1(2), 1(3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in determining Jonathan’s eligibility for another presidential bid.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Emmanuel Agida, who deposed on behalf of the plaintiff, stated that Jonathan’s reported interest in the 2027 presidential election prompted the legal action.
He argued that Jonathan, having completed the tenure of the late former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua after he died in 2010 and later serving a full elected term following the 2011 election, has exhausted the constitutional limit for the office.
The plaintiff further contends that allowing Jonathan to contest and possibly win in 2027 would amount to him taking the presidential oath for a third time, allegedly in breach of constitutional provisions governing presidential tenure.
Although Jonathan has not formally declared interest in the 2027 presidential election, his name has continued to generate political discussions amid growing calls from supporters urging him to return to active politics.
The matter is expected to come up again on May 11, 2026, for a hearing of the substantive suit and resolution of preliminary objections filed by the parties.
