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Former President Goodluck Jonathan has received a fresh legal boost ahead of the 2027 political season after a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that he is eligible to participate in the next presidential election.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu dismissed a suit seeking to challenge Jonathan’s eligibility, describing the case as frivolous and an abuse of court process.
The court held that the plaintiff, lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, lacked the legal standing to file the matter, noting that he failed to show any personal injury or loss arising from Jonathan’s perceived ambition to seek the presidency in 2027.
Justice Lifu also maintained a ₦20 million fine earlier imposed against the lawyer and awarded an additional ₦1 million cost in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
In his ruling, the judge pointed out that previous judicial decisions had already settled the issue.
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He cited judgments delivered by a Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal, both of which affirmed Jonathan’s eligibility to contest.
The judge stressed that, as a lower court, he was bound by the decision of the appellate court and could not depart from it.
The ruling is expected to intensify political conversations around Jonathan’s future, especially amid growing speculation over possible alignments and candidacies ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
More details later.
