Former President Goodluck Jonathan has filed a legal response opposing a lawsuit seeking to prevent him from contesting the 2027 presidential election. Through his lawyer, Chris Uche, SAN, Jonathan appeared before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday. Uche confirmed that a letter of conditional appearance, a notice of preliminary objection, a counter-affidavit, and a written address were filed on May 5. He stated the urgency was due to the case's focus on Jonathan's eligibility to run in the upcoming election.
Uche added that it was regrettable the suit was brought despite similar issues having been settled by the Federal High Court and affirmed by the Court of Appeal. The plaintiff's counsel, Johnmary Jideobi, and Ndubuisi Ukpai, said they had only just received Jonathan's filings and asked for more time to respond. Justice Lifu adjourned the hearing to May 11 at 2pm to consider Jonathan's objection and the main suit.
The court also directed that hearing notices be served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), named as second and third defendants. Jideobi initially filed the suit on October 6, 2025, under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025. He cited constitutional grounds and is seeking a perpetual injunction to stop Jonathan from joining any political party or appearing as a candidate in the 2027 election.
Goodluck Jonathan is challenging a court case meant to bar him from the 2027 election, even though similar legal questions were previously decided in his favour. His legal team calls the new suit regrettable, yet they are treating it as urgent enough to file multiple documents days before the hearing. If past rulings already settled his eligibility, the current case adds unnecessary strain on court resources. Nigerians named in the suit, including those at INEC and the AGF, must now respond to yet another round of litigation over a resolved matter.
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