2027, Qualified To Run Or Not: Jonathan To Know Fate May 26 

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has reserved ruling for May 26, 2026, on the suit seeking the disqualification of former president Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential polls.

The Source reports that a concerned citizen, Johnmary Jideobi, had filed a motion on notice seeking among other things an order of the Court barring Jonathan from further contesting for the office of the President of Nigeria on the grounds that he is not legally qualified having been sworn into same office for the constitutionally stipulated maximum number of two times.

The plaintiff, also, is seeking an order of the Court restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, from accepting, processing, or publishing Jonathan’s candidacy for the purpose of the 2027 presidential polls.

Jideobi, in the suit, is also praying the court to determine whether having regard to Sections 1(1),(2),(3)and 137 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the former President is still eligible to seek election into the office of the President of Nigeria again having been twice sworn into same office in 2009 and 2011.

Trial Judge, Honourable Justice Peter Lifu, had, on May 16, 2026, during penultimate hearing fined the plaintiff the sum of N 1 million for time wasting, and seemingly lack of diligent prosecution of the case which he said required accelerated hearing owing to its political implications.

According to Justice Lifu, the conduct of the plaintiff and his Counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, smacked of a deliberate ploy to unnecessarily delay the matter.

The Judge expressed displeasure that since filing the motion on notice in October, 2025, the plaintiff had not deemed it necessary to serve necessary court papers on all parties, including the INEC, a development that has impeded accelerated hearing of the matter.

Justice Lifu argued that political matters ,in view of timelines, require accelerated hearings so as not to jeopardize the interests of parties.

” I have carefully and painstakingly considered all submissions and prayers of the learned counsel in this matter.

“As this Court has earlier ruled, and ordered, this case has a character of politics. I have taken judicial notice of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s election timetable.

“The duty of this Court is to ensure that political cases are given accelerated hearing and disposed of expeditiously”, the judge stated.

Consequently, he adjourned proceedings to May 18, 2026, for a definitive and conclusive hearing of the matter.

Justice Lifu, after taking arguments from all the parties in the suit, including the adoption of both their written and oral addresses, fixed ruling for May 26, 2026.