Former President Goodluck Jonathan has formally challenged a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to prevent him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Jonathan, through his lawyer, Chris Uche, SAN, told Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss the suit shortly after the matter was called for hearing.
Uche informed the court that a letter of conditional appearance, a notice of preliminary objection, a counter affidavit and a written address had been filed on May 5, 2026, praying the court to dismiss the case.
He said they got information about the case through the media and hence, the need to file their processes urgently, going by the importance of the matter, which centres on the eligibility of the forner President to contest in the next election.
The senior advocate said it was unfortunate that such a suit is filed by a lawyer who should know more that the same matter had been decided by the Federal High Court up to the Court of Appeal.
Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that the matter was for mention but he was just being served by Jonathan’s lawyer.
He said he would need more time to respond
Justice Lifu adjourned the matter to May 11 for hearing of the ex-President’s objection and the substantive suit.
The judge also ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, the 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter, as they were not in court.
An Abuja based lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, had filed the case, praying the court to bar Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 poll.
Citing constitutional grounds, Jideobi urged the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in the country for the purpose of contesting in the election.
He also urged the court to restrain INEC from accepting from any political party, Jonathan’s name or publishing same as a duly nominated candidate for the election.
Jideobi, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, sued the former President as 1st defendant. INEC and the AGF were listed as 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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