Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday challenged a suit seeking to stop him from contesting the 2027 presidential election, telling a Federal High Court in Abuja that the matter had already been settled by the courts.
Jonathan, through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, raised the objection before Justice Peter Lifu shortly after the case was called for hearing.
Uche informed the court that Jonathan had already filed a conditional appearance, preliminary objection, counter-affidavit, and written address on May 5, urging the court to dismiss the suit.
According to him, the former president only became aware of the case through media reports and acted quickly because of the implications for his political eligibility ahead of the 2027 election.
The senior lawyer argued that the legal issue raised in the suit had already been determined by the Federal High Court and affirmed up to the Court of Appeal.
“It is unfortunate that a fellow lawyer filed this suit when the issue has already been decided,” Uche told the court.
Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for mention but said he had only just been served with Jonathan’s court processes.
Ukpai requested additional time to respond to the filings.
Justice Lifu subsequently adjourned the matter to May 11 at 2 p.m. for hearing of Jonathan’s preliminary objection and the substantive suit.
The judge also directed that hearing notices be issued and served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), who were absent from the proceedings.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025 and filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, seeks to bar Jonathan from participating in the 2027 presidential election on constitutional grounds.
Jideobi asked the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a presidential candidate.
He also urged the court to stop INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a duly nominated candidate for any political party.
Jonathan was listed as the first defendant in the suit, while INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation were named as second and third defendants respectively.
Godfrey Eshiomghie
