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Federal High Court Affirms Goodluck Jonathan Eligible to Contest 2027 Presidential Election — Dismisses Suit Seeking to Bar Him as "Frivolous"
Former President Goodluck Jonathan's path to a 2027 return was cleared on Monday after the Federal High Court dismissed a suit seeking to bar him.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, May 25, swept aside the most serious legal challenge to Goodluck Jonathan's potential presidential comeback, ruling that the former president is fully eligible to contest the 2027 election. Justice Peter Lifu dismissed a suit that sought to perpetually bar Jonathan, describing it as "frivolous" and an abuse of court process.
The ruling was decisive. The plaintiff, Abuja‑based lawyer Jideobi Johnmary, had argued that Jonathan had already served two terms — first completing Umaru Yar'Adua's tenure after his death in 2010, and then winning a full term in 2011 — and was therefore constitutionally barred from seeking office again. Justice Lifu disagreed, holding that the matter had already been settled by the Court of Appeal and that Johnmary lacked the legal standing to bring the action in the first place.
The decision removes a significant legal cloud that had hung over the Jonathan camp since supporters began openly urging the former president to return to the race. For weeks, Jonathan had been deliberately non‑committal, promising to "consult widely." That consultation, his supporters now argue, can proceed without the distraction of a court battle. The ruling comes at a moment of intense political realignment, with the PDP having already cleared Jonathan to contest, and with opposition parties scrambling to present credible alternatives ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Whether Jonathan will actually run remains an open question — he has not made a formal declaration — but Monday's ruling ensures that if he does, the courts will not stand in his way.
Stay tuned to Unuevbo TV for more on the 2027 presidential race, the Jonathan eligibility decision, and the legal battles shaping Nigeria's political landscape.
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