Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday challenged a suit filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, which seeks to restrain him from contesting the 2027 presidential election. Jonathan, through his lawyer Chief Chris Uche, SAN, appeared before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja shortly after the matter was called for hearing.
Legal Challenge and Preliminary Objection
Uche informed the court 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 stated that they learned about the case through the media and therefore needed to file their processes urgently, given the importance of the matter, which revolves around the eligibility of the former president to contest in the next election.
The senior lawyer expressed regret that such a suit was filed by a lawyer who should be aware that the same issue had already been decided by the Federal High Court and up to the Court of Appeal.
Court Proceedings and Adjournment
Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that the matter was for mention but that he had just been served with Jonathan’s processes. He requested more time to respond. Justice Lifu adjourned the matter until May 11 at 2pm for the 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), who are the 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter.
Details of the Suit
Lawyer Johnmary Jideobi had filed the case, praying the court to bar Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 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 election.
He also urged the court to restrain INEC from accepting Jonathan’s name from any political party or publishing it as a duly nominated candidate for the election. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, names the former president as the 1st defendant. Dated and filed on October 6, 2025, the suit also joins INEC and the AGF as the 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.
