May 18, (THEWILL) — The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 26, 2026, to deliver judgment in a suit challenging the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu adjourned the matter for judgment on Monday after parties in the suit adopted their final written addresses.
At the proceedings, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), listed as the third defendant in the matter, aligned with the position of the former president and urged the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
The AGF also requested the court to award substantial costs against the plaintiff, an Abuja-based lawyer who instituted the action.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, however, did not appear in court and had no legal representation during the hearing.
Jonathan and the AGF equally opposed an application seeking the recusal of Justice Lifu from the matter on allegations of bias, insisting that the request lacked merit.
The plaintiff, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, asked the court to determine whether, based on the combined interpretation of Sections 1(1), 1(2), 1(3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan remains constitutionally eligible to contest for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Specifically, the plaintiff sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the former president from presenting himself to any political party for nomination as a presidential candidate in the 2027 election and subsequent elections.
He also prayed the court to restrain INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a candidate for any future presidential election, while seeking an order directing the AGF to ensure compliance with any judgment delivered by the court.
In an affidavit deposed to by one Emmanuel Agida in support of the suit, the plaintiff argued that Jonathan had already exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures, having completed the unexpired tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and subsequently serving a full four-year term after winning the 2011 presidential election.
The affidavit further contended that if Jonathan contests and wins the 2027 election, he would exceed the maximum constitutional limit of eight years in office as President.
According to the plaintiff, failure by the court to intervene could pave the way for a political party to nominate Jonathan in breach of constitutional provisions.
He maintained that a return of Jonathan to office in 2027 would amount to the third time he would take the presidential oath of office.
Justice Lifu, while adjourning the case, disclosed that all preliminary objections raised against the suit, including issues relating to the competence of the action, would be resolved together with the substantive judgment on May 26.
Former President Jonathan has yet to formally declare interest in the 2027 presidential election.
However, THEWILL reports that the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday adopted the former President as its sole presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections and fixed Tuesday, May 19, 2026, for his screening.
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