A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday threw out a suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from participating in the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu, who presided over the matter, described the case as frivolous and an abuse of court process.
The judge subsequently imposed financial penalties totalling ₦21 million against the plaintiff, lawyer Johnmary Jideobi.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that the plaintiff failed to establish the legal right required to file the action.
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He stressed that he did not show how Jonathan’s possible presidential ambition had caused him any personal harm or injury.
READ ALSO: President Goodluck Jonathan’s Remarkable Rise, Inspiring Leadership and Legacy
The court ordered Mr Jideobi to pay ₦20 million to the former President and another ₦1 million to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Justice Lifu also noted that previous decisions delivered by courts in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal had already settled the issue of Jonathan’s constitutional eligibility to contest future presidential elections.
He said the doctrine of stare decisis compelled the court to follow those earlier judgments.
The plaintiff had relied on Section 137(3) of the Nigerian Constitution, arguing that anyone sworn in twice as President could no longer seek the office.
He further contended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not recognise Jonathan as a candidate in 2027.
Jonathan
However, counsel to the former President argued that the constitutional provision could not be applied retroactively to Jonathan, whose last presidential contest took place in 2015.
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The defence also described the suit as a politically motivated attempt to exclude the former President from future electoral participation.
Jonathan’s legal team equally opposed the plaintiff’s application asking the judge to withdraw from the matter over alleged bias, describing the request as lacking merit.
The ruling came amid growing political discussions over the possible return of Jonathan ahead of the 2027 elections.
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Although the former President has not publicly declared any intention to contest, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reportedly endorsed him as its sole presidential candidate.
Counsel representing the Attorney-General of the Federation also backed the dismissal of the case, arguing that the suit lacked substance and was capable of unnecessarily heating up the political atmosphere.
INEC did not appear during the proceedings, prompting the court to close its defence before delivering judgment.
