JONATHAN moves to challenge suit seeking to bar him from vying in 2027

Saturday, May 9, 2026 - Former president Goodluck Jonathan on Friday challenged a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to restrain him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Jonathan, through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), informed Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja after the matter was called for hearing that a letter of conditional appearance, a notice of preliminary objection, a counter affidavit and a written address had been filed on May 5, praying the court to dismiss the case.

He said they got information about the case through the media, hence the need to file their processes urgently going by the importance of the matter, which boils down on the eligibility of the former president to contest in the next election.

The senior lawyer said it was unfortunate that such a suit was filed by a lawyer who should know that the same matter had been decided by the Federal High Court up to the Court of Appeal.

Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that the matter was for mention, but he was just being served with Jonathan’s processes.

He said he would need more time to respond.

Justice Lifu adjourned the matter till May 11 by 2pm for hearing of the ex-president’s objection and the substantive suit.

The judge also ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the second and third defendants in the matter.

A lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, had filed the case, praying the court to bar Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 presidential poll.

Citing constitutional grounds, Jideobi urged the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in the country for the purpose of contesting in the poll.

He also urged the court to restrain INEC from accepting from any political party, Jonathan’s name or publishing the same as a duly nominated candidate for the election.

Jideobi, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, sued the former president as first defendant.