A Federal High Court in Abuja has given former President Goodluck Jonathan the green light to run in 2027. Justice Peter Lifu made the ruling on Tuesday.
Last week, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party nominated Jonathan as their sole presidential candidate. The group is led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
But a businessman named Johnmary Jideobi challenged the move in court. He wanted Jonathan barred from running for any political party's ticket.
Jideobi had also asked the court to stop INEC from processing Jonathan's nomination papers. He questioned whether Jonathan could legally run again under Nigeria's constitution.
The plaintiff specifically raised concerns about sections of the 1999 Constitution. These provisions deal with presidential eligibility and term limits.
In his judgment, Justice Lifu ruled in Jonathan's favor. According to him, nothing stops the former president from contesting the election.
The decision clears the path for Jonathan to formally enter the race. Political analysts say this could significantly reshape the 2027 presidential contest.
