A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 11, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings in a suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The matter came up before Justice Peter Lifu on Friday but could not proceed after counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that he had just been served with a preliminary objection filed by the defence.
He asked for more time to study the processes and respond appropriately.
The court subsequently adjourned the case and directed that hearing notices be properly served on all parties before the next sitting.
The legal action is centred on the constitutional eligibility of Jonathan to seek another term as president under the 1999 Constitution.
During proceedings, counsel to the former president, Chris Uche (SAN), told the court that Jonathan only became aware of the suit through media reports. He added that efforts had been ongoing to ensure all necessary legal documents were filed properly on behalf of the former Nigerian leader.
Uche also questioned why the issue was being revisited, arguing that similar constitutional questions surrounding Jonathan’s eligibility had already been addressed in previous decisions of both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Neither the Independent National Electoral Commission nor the Attorney-General of the Federation, who are listed as defendants in the matter, had legal representatives present in court.
The suit was filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to declare Jonathan constitutionally barred from contesting the presidency again.
The plaintiff also wants the court to restrain the former president from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for the 2027 election. He further requested an order stopping INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
At the centre of the dispute is the interpretation of Section 137 of the Constitution and whether Jonathan, having completed the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010 before winning the 2011 election, has already exhausted the constitutional limit allowed for the office.
According to court documents, the plaintiff argued that permitting Jonathan to contest again would amount to him taking the presidential oath for a third time, which he claimed would violate constitutional provisions.
An affidavit filed in support of the suit by Emmanuel Agida stated that the legal action became necessary following reports suggesting Jonathan could return to the presidential race ahead of the 2027 general election.
Justice Lifu had earlier ordered that all parties in the suit be properly served after observing that some respondents had yet to file their responses.
The case is expected to resume on May 11 as legal arguments continue over Jonathan’s political future and the constitutional interpretation of presidential tenure limits in Nigeria.
