A lawyer, Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing the name of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as a presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.
The suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, also seeks a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination as a presidential candidate in the 2027 election or in any future elections.
Jonathan is listed as the first defendant, while INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) are named as the second and third defendants, respectively.
In his application, the plaintiff asked the court to determine “whether, in view of the combined provisions of Sections 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the first defendant is eligible under any circumstance to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Based on this, Jideobi is seeking declarations that Jonathan is constitutionally barred from contesting for or holding the office of President, and that INEC lacks the authority to accept or publish his name as a candidate in any presidential election, including that of 2027.
He is also requesting a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination as a presidential candidate in 2027 or subsequent elections, and another injunction preventing INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a presidential candidate in any election.
Additionally, the lawyer seeks an order directing the AGF to ensure compliance with any decisions or orders issued by the court.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, one Emmanuel Agida stated that Jideobi, described as an advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law, filed the action to uphold the Constitution. He argued that allowing Jonathan to contest and possibly serve another term from 2027 to 2031 would exceed the cumulative eight-year tenure limit prescribed by the 1999 Constitution.
The case is expected to be scheduled for hearing by the Federal High Court in the coming weeks.