Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday challenged a suit seeking to restrain him from contesting the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the issue had already been settled by the courts.
Jonathan’s lawyer, Chris Uche, told Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja that the former president had filed a conditional appearance, notice of preliminary objection, counter affidavit and written address on May 5, urging the court to dismiss the suit.
Uche said Jonathan became aware of the case through media reports, prompting the urgent filing of legal processes because of the significance of the matter concerning the former president’s eligibility to contest the next election.
He described the suit as unfortunate, saying the issue had previously been determined by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, told the court the matter was slated for mention and that he had only just been served with Jonathan’s processes. Ukpai asked for more time to respond to the filings.
Justice Lifu adjourned the case until May 11 at 2 p.m. for hearing of Jonathan’s 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), the second and third defendants in the case.
The suit filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, seeks an order of perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election. Jideobi also wants the court to restrain INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a nominated candidate for the poll.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025 and filed on Oct. 6, 2025, Jideobi joined INEC and the AGF as defendants alongside the former president.