An Abuja Federal High Court has ruled that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election, dismissing attempts to bar him from re-entering the race.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Johnmary Jideobi, who sought an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself as a candidate for the presidency under any political party in the forthcoming election.
Jideobi had also urged the court to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting, processing, or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate, arguing that constitutional provisions disqualify him from seeking the office again.
The plaintiff asked the court to interpret Sections 1(1), (2), (3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution in determining Jonathan’s eligibility.
However, delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu held that the former president remains qualified to participate in the 2027 presidential election.
The development comes days after a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, reportedly offered Jonathan a waiver and endorsed him as the party’s sole presidential candidate ahead of the polls.
