A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The judgment followed a lawsuit filed by Johnmary Jideobi, who asked the court to stop Jonathan from presenting himself as a candidate for the next presidential election.
Jideobi also sought an order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
The suit came shortly after a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki granted Jonathan a waiver and endorsed him as the party’s sole presidential candidate.
The plaintiff argued that, based on provisions of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan should not be allowed to run for president again.
However, in his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu dismissed the suit and affirmed that Jonathan has the right to participate in the 2027 race.
The judge also ordered Jideobi to pay N20 million in damages to Jonathan.
In addition, the court awarded N1 million against the plaintiff in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Justice Lifu held that the plaintiff had no legal standing to file the case because he failed to show how Jonathan’s possible ambition affected him personally.
The judge further noted that both a Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal had earlier ruled that Jonathan remains qualified to contest for president, adding that he was bound by those decisions.
He described the suit as an abuse of court process and also rejected the plaintiff’s request asking him to withdraw from the matter, calling the application frivolous.
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Source: Nigeria News
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