A suit has been filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Core Constitutional Question
The fundamental issue raised by the plaintiff, lawyer Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, centers on the interpretation of the presidential term limits outlined in Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The question posed to the court is:
“Whether, in view of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the first defendant is eligible under any circumstances to contest for the office of the President of Nigeria?”
Argument for Ineligibility
The plaintiff argues that Jonathan is ineligible because he already served the remainder of President Yar’Adua’s term (2010–2011) and then completed a full four-year term (2011–2015).
If Jonathan were to run and win in 2027, the plaintiff contends that his total time served would exceed the cumulative eight-year maximum allowed by the Constitution, thereby violating the established two-term limit.
Key Reliefs Sought
The suit requests the court to issue:
- A declaration that Jonathan is ineligible to run for or occupy the office of the President.
- A perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from submitting himself for nomination by any political party for the 2027 or future presidential elections.
- A perpetual injunction directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to accept or publish Jonathan as a candidate.
The outcome of this case is expected to have far-reaching implications for the interpretation of Nigeria’s presidential term limits.
Source: Punch
