A legal attempt to disqualify former President Goodluck Jonathan from the 2027 presidential race suffered a setback at the Federal High Court as the plaintiff and key defendants failed to appear, prompting an adjournment for “fair hearing.”
A lawsuit seeking to bar former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election suffered a significant setback on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The proceedings, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, were stalled due to the absence of the plaintiff and legal representation for both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
When the case was called at 2:00 PM – a time specifically agreed upon during the previous sitting – only Jonathan’s lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, was present in court. Expressing frustration over the absence of the plaintiff, lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, and his counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, Uche moved for the matter to be struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.
Chief Uche argued that the plaintiff’s absence suggested a loss of interest in the case, especially following the service of Jonathan’s preliminary objection. He noted that the nature of the suit and the status of the former president demanded a serious approach which the plaintiff had failed to demonstrate.
“For every default, there must be a consequence,” Uche submitted, further requesting a N5 million cost against the plaintiff. He contended that INEC and the AGF were “passive” parties and that striking out the suit would not adversely affect them.
Justice Lifu, however, prioritized the principle of fair hearing. Upon discovering that hearing notices had not been formally served on INEC and the AGF for Monday’s proceeding, the judge declined to strike out the case immediately.
“Let us give them time. Let this order be served on INEC because INEC is fundamental in this case,” Justice Lifu stated. He underscored the need to hear from the electoral body before making a final determination. Consequently, the court adjourned the matter until May 15, 2026, for a “definite hearing,” warning that this would be the final opportunity for the parties to appear.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, Jideobi challenges Jonathan’s eligibility to run in 2027, presumably based on constitutional term limits. However, former President Jonathan, in his preliminary objection, has dismissed the suit as: Speculative: Founded on media conjecture rather than an actual nomination, Abuse of Process: An attempt to obtain a pre-emptive political judgment, Res Judicata: Jonathan argues the issue was already settled by a subsisting judgment from the Federal High Court in Yenagoa.
The outcome of the May 15 hearing is expected to determine whether the suit will proceed to a full trial or be dismissed as requested by the former president’s legal team.
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