The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 26, 2026, for judgment in a suit challenging the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu announced the date on Monday after all parties adopted their final written addresses in the matter.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was instituted by an Abuja-based lawyer seeking the court’s interpretation of constitutional provisions on presidential tenure limits and a determination of whether Jonathan remains qualified to run for office again.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Jonathan both urged the court to dismiss the case and award substantial costs to the plaintiff. They also opposed a motion seeking the recusal of the judge on grounds of alleged bias.
The central issue before the court is the interpretation of Sections 1(1), (2) and (3), as well as Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), particularly whether Jonathan is eligible “under any circumstances whatsoever” to contest the presidency.
The plaintiff is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself for nomination by any political party for the 2027 election and beyond, as well as an order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting or publishing his name as a candidate.
In an affidavit, the plaintiff argued that Jonathan would exceed the constitutional maximum of eight years in office if he were to serve another term beginning in 2027.
He maintained that Jonathan, having completed the unexpired term of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later serving a full term after the 2011 election, has already exhausted the constitutional limit of two terms as president.
The plaintiff warned that failure of the court to intervene could lead to a situation where a political party fields Jonathan as its candidate, resulting in what he described as a third oath of office.
Justice Lifu further held that rulings on all preliminary objections in the matter would be delivered alongside the final judgment scheduled for May 26.