A lawyer, Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to prevent former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Jideobi argues that Jonathan is constitutionally ineligible to run for the presidency again, citing Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits anyone who has been sworn in as president twice from contesting again. Jideobi claims that Jonathan’s potential candidacy in 2027 would violate the constitutional provision, as he has already served as president twice: once to complete the term of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and again after winning the 2011 election.
The suit hinges on the interpretation of Sections 1(1), (2), (3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which outline the eligibility criteria for the presidency and the limits on presidential terms. Jideobi is seeking several reliefs, including:
– A declaration that Jonathan is ineligible to stand for or occupy the office of President again.
– An order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination as its candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
– An order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to accept or publish Jonathan’s name as a candidate.
Jideobi asserts that as a lawyer and advocate of constitutionalism, he has the legal right to institute the action to prevent a breach of the Constitution. The case is yet to be heard, and no date has been fixed for the hearing.
