Former President Goodluck Jonathan has filed court papers to fight a lawsuit challenging his eligibility for the 2027 presidential race. His legal team submitted the documents on Friday before Justice Peter Lifu at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Chief Chris Uche, Jonathan's senior advocate, told the court the defence team had filed their response on May 5. The documents included a notice of preliminary objection and a counter affidavit challenging the suit's merits.
Uche explained they learned about the case through media reports and moved quickly to respond. He stressed the matter's critical importance given its connection to Jonathan's presidential eligibility.
The senior lawyer argued this wasn't new legal ground. Both the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal had previously addressed the same issue, he noted.
Uche said it was troubling that a lawyer would file such a suit. A legal professional should understand that this question had already been settled in court, he added.
Ndubuisi Ukpai, representing the plaintiff, told the judge he'd only just received Jonathan's court papers. He requested additional time to prepare his response to the defence arguments.
Justice Lifu scheduled the next hearing for May 11 at 2 p.m. The court will then consider Jonathan's objections and hear the substantive case.
The judge ordered that the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation be served with hearing notices. Both are listed as second and third defendants respectively.
Lawyer Johnmary Jideobi originally filed the case in October 2025. He's seeking to permanently bar Jonathan from running in the 2027 election on constitutional grounds.
Jideobi wants the court to order INEC not to accept Jonathan's nomination from any political party. He's also asking that the electoral commission be barred from publishing Jonathan's name as an official candidate.
According to court records, the suit is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025. Jonathan appears as the first defendant, with INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation as co-defendants.
