Court Adjourns Jonathan’s 2027 Eligibility Suit Until May 11

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has challenged a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to restrain him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Jonathan, through his counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, informed Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday shortly after the matter was called for hearing.
Uche told the court that a letter of conditional appearance, a notice of preliminary objection, a counter affidavit, and a written address had already been filed on May 5, urging the court to dismiss the case.
According to the senior lawyer, Jonathan became aware of the suit through media reports, prompting the urgent filing of the processes because of the significance of the matter, which centres on the former president’s eligibility to contest the 2027 election.
He described it as unfortunate that a lawyer instituted such a suit despite the fact that the issue had allegedly been decided previously by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, told the court that the matter was scheduled for mention and that he had just been served with Jonathan’s processes.
Ukpai requested more time to enable him respond appropriately.
Justice Lifu subsequently adjourned the matter until May 11 at 2 p.m. for hearing of the former president’s objection as well as the substantive suit.
The judge also directed that hearing notices be issued and served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), who are listed as the second and third defendants respectively and were absent from court.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that lawyer Johnmary Jideobi had approached the court seeking an order barring Jonathan from participating in the 2027 presidential election.
Relying on constitutional provisions, Jideobi asked the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for the purpose of contesting the election.
The plaintiff also sought an order restraining INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a duly nominated candidate for the election.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, filed on October 6, 2025, Jideobi listed Jonathan as the first defendant, while INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation were joined as second and third defendants respectively.