BREAKING: Jonathan eligible to recontest for president, court rules

The federal high court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed a suit challenging former President Goodluck Jonathan’s eligibility to the 2027 presidential election.

The judge, Peter Lifu, in a judgement, also awarded a N20 million fine against the plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi, who filed the suit based on a constitutional amendment prohibiting anyone from being sworn into the office of the president more than twice. The fine was awarded in favour of Mr Jonathan.

The judge also awarded a N1 million fine against the plaintiff and in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

Mr Lifu held that Mr Jideobi lacked the legal right to institute the suit, having not suffered any loss from Mr Jonathan’s perceived intention to vie for the 2027 presidential election.

The judge said he was bound by the appellate court’s decision, as the Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal had already held that Mr Jonathan was eligible to run.

The judge then described the lawyer’s suit as “an abuse of court process.”

Justice Lifu also dismissed the Jideobi’s motion seeking the judge’s withdrawal from the case for being frivolous.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Jideobi sued Mr Jonathan, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the AGF.

The plaintifff argued that Mr Jonathan, having been sworn in twice as president, cannot contest again in 2027 based on the provisions of Sections 1(1), (2) and (3) and 137(3) of the constitution.

He argued that INEC lacks constitutional power to accept Jonathan’s nomination for the 2027 presidential election. He also asked the court to compel the Attorney-General of the Federation to enforce any orders.