2027: COURT FIXES MAY 15 TO HEAR CASE SEEKING DISQUALIFICATION OF JONATHAN

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By:Tajudeen Aminat

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 15 as the final date for the hearing of a suit seeking to bar former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

The judge set the date on Monday after the plaintiff, lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, and his counsel failed to appear in court without any explanation.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), who are the 2nd and 3rd defendants, were also absent from proceedings.

Following their absence, counsel to Jonathan, Chris Uche (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the case for lack of diligent prosecution, arguing that the plaintiff appeared to have abandoned the suit after facing preliminary objections. He also asked for ₦5 million in costs against the plaintiff, payable to Jonathan.

Uche further described the suit as unmeritorious, saying the court should not be burdened with what he termed an unserious matter.

However, Justice Lifu noted that there was no proof that hearing notices had been served on INEC and the AGF, stressing that proper service is essential to fair hearing.

The judge, rather than striking out the case, opted to give all parties another opportunity, describing it as a final indulgence.

He adjourned the matter to May 15 and ordered that hearing notices be served on the plaintiff, INEC, and the AGF.

In the suit, Jideobi is asking the court to prevent Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a presidential aspirant for the 2027 election and to restrain INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a candidate.

He is also seeking the court’s interpretation of constitutional provisions to determine whether Jonathan remains eligible to contest again, given that he had completed the tenure of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later served a full term after winning the 2011 election.

According to an affidavit in support of the case, Jonathan assumed office on May 6, 2010, following Yar’Adua’s death, and later completed a full term after the 2011 election.

The plaintiff argues that this amounts to two constitutional terms and that allowing him to contest again would violate the Constitution.

The suit, filed in the public interest, warns that any further bid by Jonathan could undermine constitutional limits on presidential tenure.

Jonathan, meanwhile, has said he is still consulting on whether to join the 2027 presidential race.