A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election, removing a major legal cloud that had surrounded his potential return to frontline politics.
The judgment was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Peter Lifu, who held that Jonathan can lawfully present himself as a candidate in the forthcoming general election.
Court dismisses bid to block Jonathan
The case was filed by a claimant, Johnmary Jideobi, who sought judicial interpretation of constitutional provisions relating to presidential tenure limits.
The plaintiff asked the court to determine whether Jonathan remains qualified to run again under Sections 1(1), 1(2), 1(3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He further requested an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate for 2027.
However, the court declined to grant the reliefs sought, effectively affirming Jonathan’s eligibility to participate in the election.
Political implications ahead of 2027
The ruling is expected to trigger fresh political discussions within major parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where factions have previously expressed differing views on Jonathan’s possible candidacy.
A PDP faction reportedly led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki had recently indicated support for Jonathan by offering him a waiver, positioning him as a potential consensus candidate.
With the court’s decision now in place, attention is likely to shift toward whether Jonathan will formally declare interest in the 2027 race.
What happens next
While the judgment clears the legal hurdle, Jonathan has not publicly confirmed whether he intends to contest. Political analysts expect increased lobbying within party structures as Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 general elections.
