A legal attempt to block former President Goodluck Jonathan from entering the 2027 presidential race has been challenged in court, with his legal team describing the case as baseless and previously settled by appellate courts. In the suit, Jonathan is listed as the first defendant, while INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation are joined as second and third defendants.
At the Federal High Court in Abuja, Jonathan’s counsel, Chris Uche, told Justice Peter Lifu that the former president had filed a preliminary objection alongside other legal processes on May 5, asking the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
He said the defence only became aware of the action through media reports and acted quickly because of the constitutional issues it raised regarding Jonathan’s eligibility to contest elections.
The lawyer further argued that the subject matter of the case had already been determined by higher courts, including the Court of Appeal, and should not be reopened.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that although the case was scheduled for mention, he had only just received the defence documents and required additional time to respond.
Justice Peter Lifu adjourned the matter to May 11 for hearing of the preliminary objection and the substantive suit, and directed that hearing notices be served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation.
The case was instituted by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to bar Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
He is also seeking orders restraining political parties from presenting Jonathan as a candidate and preventing INEC from accepting or publishing his name for the election.
