A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election, dismissing efforts to stop him from re-entering the race.
The judgment was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Peter Lifu following a suit filed by Johnmary Jideobi, who sought to bar Jonathan from contesting for the presidency under any political party platform.
The plaintiff had asked the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, from accepting, processing or publishing Jonathan’s name as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Jideobi also urged the court to determine whether Jonathan remained constitutionally qualified to seek the office again, citing Sections 1(1), 1(2), 1(3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution.
However, Justice Lifu held that the former president was not constitutionally barred from contesting the election and could lawfully participate in the 2027 presidential race.
The ruling comes days after a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, reportedly led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, offered Jonathan a waiver and adopted him as the party’s sole presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 polls.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, has yet to officially declare his intention to contest the election despite growing political pressure and speculation over a possible return to active politics.
