Former President Goodluck Jonathan has formally challenged a lawsuit seeking to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential race, labeling the legal action as a repetitive attempt to litigate a settled constitutional matter.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday mounted a strong legal defense against a lawsuit aimed at barring him from the 2027 presidential election. Represented by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, the former president appeared before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the suit filed by legal practitioner Johnmary Jideobi.
Jonathan’s legal team informed the court that they had filed a notice of preliminary objection and a counter-affidavit on May 5, seeking an immediate dismissal of the case.
During the proceedings, Chief Uche expressed disappointment that the suit was initiated by a lawyer, arguing that the issue of Jonathan’s eligibility had already been adjudicated by the Federal High Court and affirmed by the Court of Appeal in previous years.
He noted that the defense team moved urgently to file their processes after learning of the suit through media reports, citing the significant public interest regarding the former president’s constitutional right to seek office.
The plaintiff’s counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, acknowledged receiving the defense processes just before the hearing and requested additional time to file a formal response. Consequently, Justice Lifu adjourned the matter until May 11 at 2:00 p.m. for a consolidated hearing of the preliminary objection and the substantive suit.
The judge further directed that hearing notices be served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), who are the second and third defendants in the matter.
The lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was originally filed in October 2025. In it, Jideobi invites the court to interpret constitutional provisions to restrain Jonathan from presenting himself as a candidate to any political party.
The plaintiff is also seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a candidate for the 2027 polls. With the court now set to hear the arguments next week, the outcome is expected to provide a definitive legal stance on whether the former president can officially enter the upcoming electoral race.
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