- The court also awarded an additional N1 million against Jideobi in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation
- Jonathan noted that contesting for the presidency was a serious undertaking and not something to be approached lightly
The Federal High Court in Abuja has thrown out a lawsuit filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi aimed at preventing former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
In his judgment, Justice Peter Lifu dismissed the case and ordered the plaintiff to pay N20 million in damages to Jonathan, Eko Hot Blog gathered.
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The court also awarded an additional N1 million against Jideobi in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Justice Lifu ruled that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing to institute the matter, noting that he failed to show how Jonathan’s alleged interest in the 2027 election had caused him any personal injury or loss.
The judge further observed that courts had previously addressed the issue of Jonathan’s eligibility to contest future presidential elections.
He referenced earlier decisions by the Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal, which affirmed that the former president was qualified to seek office, stressing that the appellate court ruling remained binding.
Justice Lifu subsequently described the action as an abuse of the judicial process.
He also rejected Jideobi’s application seeking his withdrawal from the matter, describing the request as lacking merit.
The suit had listed Jonathan, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation as first, second and third defendants respectively.
Jonathan, who became president in 2010 following the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, later won the 2011 presidential election after previously serving as vice president.
However, he lost his re-election bid in 2015 to former President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, marking the first defeat of an incumbent president since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.
Although the former president has largely remained outside active partisan politics since leaving office, groups and supporters have continued to urge him to enter the 2027 presidential race.
Responding recently to members of the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, the former president said he would undertake broad consultations before taking any decision on the matter.
Jonathan noted that contesting for the presidency was a serious undertaking and not something to be approached lightly, while acknowledging the calls for him to run.
