The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, has declared former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest in the 2027 presidential election and other future presidential elections.

Mr Jonathan had previously announced that he would commence consultation concerning the possibility of running for president in 2027.

A lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, had challenged Mr Jonathan’s eligibility to run for president. In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, Mr Jideobi asked the court to declare Mr Jonathan constitutionally ineligible to seek the country’s apex position, having being sworn-in as president twice in 2010 and 2011.

However, in a ruling on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu held that Mr Jonathan could participate in any presidential election as a contestant. The judge also awarded Mr Jonathan N20 million, to be paid by Mr Jideobi as a fine. The judge also awarded a N1 million fine against Mr. Jideobi, payable to the attorney general of the federation.

The judge further held that Mr Jideobi lacked the legal right to have instituted the suit having not suffered any loss from Mr Jonathan’s perceived intention to vie for the presidential office. He further revealed that a Federal High Court, Yenagoa Division, and a ruling of the appellate court had already held that Mr Jonathan was eligible to run for office, adding that he was bound by the appellate court’s decision.

The judge further described Mr Jideobi’s suit as “an abuse of court process”, while dismissing his motion seeking withdrawal from the case for being frivolous.

Meanwhile, the Taminu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party last week offered a waiver to Mr Jonathan as the only presidential candidate of that faction. The screening committee of the PDP faction also waived the screening process for Mr Jonathan.