2027 Race: Jonathan Dragged to Court Over Presidential Ambition as Debate Deepens

The controversy surrounding former President Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged plan to contest the 2027 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn on Monday after he was dragged before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

According to Newsmen, a lawyer, Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, filed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, seeking to bar Jonathan from contesting the 2027 election. The suit also listed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation as second and third defendants, respectively.

Jideobi is asking the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for the purpose of contesting the presidency and to prevent INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a valid candidate.

The legal action comes shortly after former Minister of Information and PDP chieftain, Prof. Jerry Gana, declared in Minna that Jonathan would run as the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2027.

Gana had said, “In 2015, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of Nigerians. After him, another president ruled for eight years, and another has ruled for two years. Nigerians have seen the difference and are now asking us to bring back our friend, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. I can confirm that he will contest the 2027 election as PDP candidate.”

Since Gana’s comment, the presidency has reportedly expressed unease over Jonathan’s speculated comeback.

Presidency Describes Jonathan’s Tenure as ‘Disastrous’

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga had earlier criticised Jonathan’s record in office, calling his administration “a disaster.” He challenged the former president to run against Bola Tinubu in 2027, arguing that Jonathan lacked the constitutional eligibility to seek another term after being sworn in twice.

Onanuga stated: “Let us remind ourselves about Jonathan’s record. We cannot forget how his regime, devoid of any clear economic agenda, ran the economy aground. But Jonathan will have his day in court. The jury will determine whether someone sworn in twice can constitutionally contest again.”

Jonathan first became president in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and won a full term in 2011 before losing to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

‘Abuse of Court Process’ — SAN Reacts

Reacting to the suit, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oba Maduabuchi, described the case as an “abuse of court process.”

Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Maduabuchi said a court in Yenagoa had previously ruled on Jonathan’s eligibility and that the decision remained valid since no appeal had been filed against it.

“The issue of Jonathan’s qualification has been settled by a competent court in Yenagoa. Until that judgment is set aside, any attempt to relitigate the matter is simply an abuse of court process,” he said.

He further explained that Section 137(3) of the Constitution, which limits the number of presidential terms, came into effect in 2018—long after Jonathan completed Yar’Adua’s tenure.

APC: Jonathan Needs ‘Overdose of Good Luck’ to Win

Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) mocked the PDP’s alleged plan to return Jonathan to Aso Rock, describing it as a “nostalgic but desperate political move.”

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, the party said, “If he chooses to run, President Jonathan will need more than an overdose of good luck to stand a chance. The landmines before him are numerous—legal, historical, and questions of capacity.”

Okonkwo to Jonathan: They Will Rubbish You

Veteran Nollywood actor and lawyer, Kenneth Okonkwo, also cautioned Jonathan against running in 2027, saying the same political forces that “destroyed his image” in 2015 are still in power.

“My advice is that Jonathan should not contemplate contesting in 2027. The same forces that nearly destroyed his name when they were not in power are now in power—they will take his name to the toilet,” he warned in a video shared on X.

Kukah Warns Against Political Manipulation

Earlier, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, had urged Jonathan to exercise caution in considering a political comeback.

Speaking at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation’s Democracy Dialogue in Accra, Ghana, Kukah reminded the former president of his historic 2015 concession of defeat, describing it as a “divine act of sacrifice.”

He quoted General Theophilus Danjuma, saying, “The voice of the devil is not so far from the voice of God. Listen very carefully to those who want to use you for their own interests, not yours or Nigeria’s.”

Analyst: APC, Tinubu Camp Jittery

A public affairs analyst and communication scholar at Peaceland University, Enugu, Dr. Nduka Odo, said reactions from the APC and Tinubu’s camp showed “genuine political anxiety” over Jonathan’s possible return.

According to him, “APC and Tinubu’s supporters are jittery because Jonathan represents a strong electoral threat. Their attacks on him and other opposition figures like Peter Obi stem from fear of losing power, not principle.”

He added that the ruling party had “mastered the strategy of attacking strong opponents” to weaken their credibility ahead of 2027.