Court Clears Jonathan To Contest 2027 Presidential Election

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has cleared former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.

The court, in a ruling delivered on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, held that Jonathan remained eligible to participate in the election as a presidential contestant.

The ruling followed a suit filed by one Johnmary Jideobi, who had asked the court to stop Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for the 2027 presidential poll.

Jideobi had also urged the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting, processing or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate in the next general election.

The plaintiff asked the court to determine whether, considering Sections 1(1), (2), (3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the former president was still qualified to seek election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Naija News reports that Jonathan, who served as President between 2010 and 2015, has repeatedly been linked with a possible return to the presidential race ahead of the 2027 general elections.

PDP Faction Offers Jonathan Waiver

The court ruling comes days after a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, reportedly offered Jonathan a waiver to contest as the party’s sole presidential candidate.

The development had sparked fresh political discussions over whether the former president could legally return to the race, considering his previous tenure in office.

However, delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu held that Jonathan could participate in the election as a contestant.

The ruling effectively removed a legal obstacle that could have prevented the former president from seeking the ticket of any political party ahead of the 2027 poll.

Justice Lifu ruled that the former president was not barred from contesting the election.

Although the full details of the ruling were not immediately available, the court’s decision has now placed Jonathan among potential figures who may shape the political calculations ahead of the next presidential election.

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