As speculations grow over former President Goodluck Jonathan’s possible return to the presidential race in 2027, a previously unpublished judgment of the Federal High Court, Yenagoa, has confirmed that Jonathan is legally qualified to contest for president.
The ruling, delivered on May 27, 2022, by Justice Isah Dashem, dismissed arguments that Jonathan was barred under Section 137(1)(b) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The case was filed by two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham, who challenged Jonathan’s eligibility after speculations that the APC might field him in the 2023 elections.
Justice Dashem ruled that Jonathan had only been elected president once in 2011 and that his completion of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s tenure in 2010 could not be counted as a separate election. The court also held that the 2018 constitutional amendment barring persons who completed another president’s tenure from contesting twice could not be applied retroactively, as Jonathan had already contested the 2015 elections before the law came into effect.
The judgment, which has neither been appealed nor overturned, remains valid and enforceable. This effectively affirms Jonathan’s right to contest one final term in office.
Political Implications Ahead of 2027
Sources close to the former president revealed that Jonathan is still consulting with stakeholders on whether to run. However, he has already been approached by at least three parties—the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and a coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—to fly their flags in 2027.
Analysts suggest Jonathan’s candidacy could significantly shape the 2027 presidential race, especially as many northern stakeholders see him as a unifying option amid claims of marginalization under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—a claim the presidency has denied.
Political observers also note that Jonathan’s eligibility for just one more term makes him a strategic candidate who could appeal to both southern and northern blocs ahead of the crucial election.
ThisDay
