Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been dragged before the Federal High Court in Abuja over a legal bid to stop him from contesting the 2027 Presidential election.

The suit, filed on Monday by Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, a lawyer, asks the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from submitting himself to any political party for nomination.

The plaintiff also wants the court to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a candidate in the 2027 Presidential election or any future poll.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, Jonathan is named as the first defendant, while INEC and the Attorney- General of the Federation are the second and third defendants.

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The case raises a constitutional question: whether, in light of Sections 1(1), (2), (3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Jonathan is eligible to contest for Nigeria’s Presidency again.

The plaintiff argues that the Constitution does not permit Jonathan to run, having already served out the remainder of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s term and then his own full term following the 2011 election.

An affidavit filed in support of the case by one Emmanuel Agida states that Jonathan was first sworn in as President on May 6, 2010, after Yar’Adua’s death, and was re-elected in 2011.

The plaintiff says recent media reports suggest that Jonathan may attempt another run in 2027, which he believes would violate the Constitution’s two-term limit.

He argues that if the court does not act, a political party may nominate Jonathan, potentially allowing him to contest and win the 2027 election.

That, he claims, will result in Jonathan taking the Presidential Oath a third time contrary to Constitutional provisions.

The plaintiff maintains he has the legal standing to bring the suit as a lawyer committed to upholding the Constitution.

He refers to provisions that state no person who has completed another’s term may be elected more than once.

He also cites the Constitutional requirement that Nigeria must be governed strictly according to the law, with no person or group assuming power outside the framework of the Constitution.

He argues that Jonathan’s return would undermine constitutional order and has filed the suit in the public interest to protect the rule of law.

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The plaintiff asks the court to declare Jonathan ineligible to contest, bar INEC from accepting or publishing his candidacy, and order the Attorney General to enforce compliance.

As of the time of this report, no date has been fixed for the hearing.