By Jane Okafor, Abuja
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has been asked to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in Nigeria for the purpose of participating in the 2027 presidential race.
The applicant, Mr Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, also asked the
court to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting Jonathan’s name or publishing the same from any of the registered political party as a duly nominated candidate for the country’s presidential contest.
The plaintiff who on Monday sought the relief, listed ex-President Jonathan, INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) were listed as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
In the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/ 2025, lawyer Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi wants the court to determine:
“Whether in view of the combined provisions of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and their conflated interpretation, the 1st Defendant is eligible, under any circumstances [whatsoever] to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”
Upon the determination of the question, the plaintiff seeks “A declaration of this Honourable Court that upon an intimate reading and complete understanding of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended the first Defendant (Goodluck Ebele Jonathan) is ineligible to stand for or occupy the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“A declaration of this Honorable Court that in view of the entirety of Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended the 2nd Defendant (INEC) lacks the constitutional power to receive from any political party the name of the first defendant or publish same as the candidate of any political party for the election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.
“An order of perpetual injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the first Defendant (Goodluck Ebele Jonathan) from presenting himself to any political party in Nigeria for nomination as its candidate for the general election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, holding in 2027 and other years to come.
“An order of perpetual injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the 2nd Defendant (INEC) from either accepting from any political party in Nigeria the name of the 1st Defendant or publishing the same as a candidate for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, holding in 2027 and other years to come.”
And, “an order of this Honourable Court directing the 3rd Defendant (AGF) to ensure compliance with the decisions and orders of this court.”
