Jonathan’s 2027 Ambition in Trouble as Court Moves to Stop Him from Returning to Aso Rock
By Passman Akpos
A Federal High Court in Abuja is set to hear a suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, as debates over constitutional term limits and speculation about his possible political return continue to intensify.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was instituted by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to declare Jonathan constitutionally ineligible to seek the presidency again
Justice Peter Lifu had on April 28 ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants after some parties failed to file their responses.
Jonathan is listed as the first defendant in the suit, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation are named as the second and third defendants respectively.
The plaintiff is seeking an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for the 2027 election. He is also asking the court to stop INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
Jideobi wants the court to determine whether, based on the combined provisions of Sections 1(1), (2), (3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan remains eligible under any circumstance to contest for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the plaintiff, Jonathan has already exhausted the constitutional limit, having completed the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua after his death in 2010 and subsequently serving another full term after winning the 2011 presidential election.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Emmanuel Agida, who deposed on behalf of the plaintiff, stated that reports of Jonathan’s alleged interest in the 2027 presidential race prompted the legal action.
He argued that allowing Jonathan to contest and possibly win the election would amount to him taking the presidential oath for a third time, which he described as a violation of constitutional provisions on tenure limits.
The affidavit further warned that if the court does not intervene early, a political party may present Jonathan as its presidential candidate, thereby creating what the plaintiff described as a constitutional breach.
The legal battle comes amid renewed political speculation surrounding Jonathan’s future, although the former president has not directly declared any intention to run in 2027.
Recently, Jonathan urged young Nigerians to continue advocating for peaceful and credible elections, stressing that peace remains critical to national development.
Speaking at a public event, he lamented Nigeria’s low voter turnout, describing it as one of the worst he had observed globally.
“I have observed elections in about 14 or more African countries. In some, I have been there two times, and even in South East Asia, Nigeria has the lowest turnout in every election cycle,” he said.
Jonathan also linked Nigeria’s economic hardship and migration crisis to years of poor leadership and weak long-term planning, urging leaders to build a country that inspires hope among young people.
“These countries people travel abroad to enjoy did not become like that overnight. Leaders after leaders planned for their grandchildren and built their countries,” he added.
However, he carefully avoided directly addressing growing speculations about a possible return to the presidential race in 2027.
