A lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, on Monday, urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to bar ex-President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Citing constitutional grounds, Mr Jideobi urged the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Mr Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in the country for the purpose of participating in the poll.
He also urged the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting from any political party MrJonathan’s name or publishing same as a duly nominated candidate for the election.
Th News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Jideobi sued the former president in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025.
In the suit filed on Monday (6 October), the lawyer joined INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as co-defendants.
He sought one question for determination, which is:
“Whether in view of the combined provisions of the entirety Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and their conflated interpretation, the 1st defendant is eligible, under any circumstances [whatsoever] to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”
Citing Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the Nigerian constitution, he argued that INEC lacks the constitutional power to receive Mr Jonathan’s name from any political party for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.
He also sought an order directing the 3rd defendant (AGF) to ensure compliance with the decisions and orders of this court.”
