The debate over whether former President Goodluck Jonathan can contest for Nigeria’s presidency again has taken a dramatic turn, following a Federal High Court ruling in Yenagoa that effectively removed the legal barrier against him.
For years, critics insisted Jonathan was ineligible because of Section 137(3) of the amended 1999 Constitution, which prevents anyone from being sworn in as president more than twice. They argued that Jonathan had already taken the oath in 2010, after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and again in 2011 when he won his own election. However, supporters countered that the law came into effect in 2018—three years after Jonathan left office—and should not apply retroactively.
Documents reviewed from the Yenagoa court confirm that Justice Isa Dashen agreed with Jonathan’s legal team. The court held that since Jonathan had only been elected president once—in 2011—the restriction under Section 137(3) could not invalidate his eligibility. The judge also highlighted that Jonathan’s first oath in 2010 was not based on an election but on completing Yar’Adua’s tenure, which by precedent cannot be counted as a separate mandate.
Interestingly, both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who were listed as defendants in the suit, failed to file any counter arguments despite being duly served. The judge remarked that their silence amounted to conceding to the facts presented by Jonathan and the plaintiffs who initiated the case.
In his filings, Jonathan referenced the official gazette of the Fourth Constitutional Alteration, which came into effect on June 7, 2018. He argued that the amendment could not be applied to past events, insisting his right to seek future presidential election had been established before the law was enacted. The court accepted this reasoning, noting that constitutional amendments cannot operate retroactively unless explicitly stated.
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The judgment also examined questions raised by the plaintiffs, including whether Jonathan’s previous oaths of office disqualified him from another run, and whether APC or INEC had the authority to stop his candidacy. In each case, the court sided with Jonathan, affirming that he remains legally eligible.
The ruling has sent ripples through Nigeria’s political space, especially within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where some leaders are already urging Jonathan to consider entering the 2027 presidential race. Analysts suggest his return could reshape political alignments and increase tensions between the ruling APC and the opposition.
With speculation intensifying, Jonathan himself has maintained that nothing in the Constitution prevents him from running again if he chooses. He described attempts to bar him as political distractions, stressing that only Nigerians will decide his future through the ballot box.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the spotlight remains firmly on Jonathan—whether he will mount a comeback or allow history to rest. For now, the court’s decision has cleared the legal fog, leaving the political path wide open.
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