By Charles Pemu 
ABUJA—The eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to seek the presidency in 2027 has been officially challenged in court, with a lawyer asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to issue a perpetual injunction against his candidacy.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/ 2025, was filed on Monday by Mr. Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, who names Jonathan as the 1st defendant, alongside the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as the 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
The central argument of the plaintiff is rooted in the constitutional limit on presidential tenure. An affidavit supporting the suit contends that if Jonathan were to win the 2027 election, his four-year term (2027-2031) would cause him to exceed the cumulative eight years statutorily permitted for a Nigerian president. Jonathan had previously served out the remainder of a presidential term before being elected for his own full four-year term, which ended in 2015.
The lawsuit seeks judicial determination on a single, pivotal question:
Whether, in view of the combined provisions of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the former President is eligible, under any circumstances whatsoever, to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Restraining Orders Sought
Based on the interpretation of these constitutional provisions, the plaintiff is requesting four principal reliefs, all aimed at legally foreclosing Jonathan’s participation in the 2027 race:
- A declaration that Jonathan is ineligible to stand for or occupy the office of the President.
- A declaration that INEC lacks the constitutional power to receive or publish Jonathan’s name as a candidate for the 2027 election and beyond.
- An order of perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination.
- An order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a presidential candidate.
The suit also seeks a consequential order directing the Attorney General of the Federation to ensure full compliance with the court’s final decision. The case highlights the ongoing legal complexities surrounding presidential term limits, particularly concerning former office holders who have previously served partial terms.