Court Declares Goodluck Jonathan Eligible for 2027 Election

On Tuesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to participate in the 2027 presidential election. This judgment was positively received by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), which had previously granted Jonathan a waiver to allow his candidacy.

The court's decision, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, dismissed a suit filed by Johnmari Jideobi that sought to restrain Jonathan from presenting himself as a candidate, arguing that Jonathan had already served two terms and thus exceeded the constitutional limit. The court awarded Jonathan N20 million in damages against Jideobi for lack of legal standing, and an additional N1 million against the plaintiff in favor of the Attorney General of the Federation.

The ruling aligns with a previous appeal court decision affirming Jonathan's eligibility. Jonathan is expected to consult widely as he prepares for the election.