A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Justice Peter Lifu held that there was no legal restriction preventing Jonathan from participating in the presidential race or presenting himself as a candidate under any political party.
The case was instituted by Johnmary Jideobi, who asked the court to stop Jonathan from seeking nomination for the 2027 presidential election and to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (Independent National Electoral Commission) to reject or withhold his name from any list of candidates.
Jideobi had argued that, based on Sections 1(1), (2), (3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan was no longer qualified to run for the office of President, having previously served in that capacity.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s President between 2010 and 2015, has in recent months been the subject of political speculation over a possible return to the presidential race ahead of the 2027 general election.
The controversy intensified after a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, reportedly granted Jonathan a waiver and indicated willingness to back him as a potential candidate.
In its ruling, the court dismissed the legal challenge and affirmed that Jonathan remains free to contest in the forthcoming election, effectively removing a major legal barrier to his potential political comeback.
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