Nigeria’s former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has formally challenged a suit seeking to prevent him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
A legal practitioner, Johnmary Jideobi, had filed the case, praying the court to bar Jonathan from contesting the 2027 poll.
Jonathan, through his counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, told Justice Peter Lifu of the High Court to dismiss the suit shortly after the matter was called for hearing.
Uche informed the court that a letter of conditional appearance, a notice of preliminary objection, a counter affidavit and a written address had been filed on May 5, 2026, praying the court to dismiss the case.
He said they got information about the case through the media and hence the need to file their processes urgently, going by the importance of the matter, which centres on the eligibility of the former President to contest the next presidential election.
The senior advocate said it was unfortunate that such a suit was filed by a lawyer who should know more, as the same matter had been decided by the Federal High Court up to the Court of Appeal.
Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that the matter was for mention but he was just being served by Jonathan’s lawyer.
He said he would need more time to respond.
Meanwhile, Justice Lifu has adjourned the case to May 11 for hearing the ex-president’s objection and the substantive suit.
