A legal practitioner, Johnmary Jideobi, has approached the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, seeking to disqualify former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Mr Jideobi, who argued that if Mr Jonathan contests, it would amount to a violation of Nigeria’s constitutional term limits, asked the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining the former president from presenting himself to any political party for nomination as a presidential candidate.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, Mr Jonathan is named as the first defendant, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) are listed as the second and third defendants, respectively.
Mr Jideobi is also asking the court to bar INEC from accepting or publishing Mr Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate in any future election.
The case hinges on the interpretation of Sections 1(1)-(3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which limit the number of times an individual can take the oath of office as president to two.
The plaintiff argued that Mr Jonathan, having completed the unexpired tenure of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua between 2010 and 2011 and subsequently served a full term following his 2011 election victory, had effectively taken the oath of office twice.
He maintained that any attempt by the former president to contest again in 2027 would contravene the constitution, as it would amount to a third swearing-in.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, one Emmanuel Agida, who deposed to the statement on behalf of the plaintiff, described Mr Jideobi as “an advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law” who initiated the action in the public interest to prevent what he described as a potential constitutional breach.
“The plaintiff contends that if Dr Jonathan is allowed to contest and win the 2027 election, he would be taking the oath of office as president for a third time, which the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly prohibits,” the affidavit reads in part.
The case has yet to be assigned a hearing date, but it is expected to test long-standing interpretations of section 137(3) of the constitution—a provision inserted through the Fourth Alteration Act in 2018, which bars anyone who has been sworn in twice as president from seeking election to that office again.
Mr Jonathan, who governed Nigeria between 2010 and 2015, has not publicly declared any intention to run in the 2027 election.
However, periodic reports suggesting his possible return to power have continued to surface in political circles—speculation that has now prompted a legal preemptive challenge.
