Former President Goodluck Jonathan has challenged a suit seeking to stop him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Jonathan, through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss the case filed by a legal practitioner, Johnmary Jideobi, who is seeking an order barring the former president from participating in the next presidential poll.
The matter came up on Friday before Justice Peter Lifu.
Counsel to Jonathan informed the court that the defence team had already filed a conditional appearance, preliminary objection, counter-affidavit and written address challenging the competence of the suit.
Uche explained that the former president only became aware of the case through media reports, prompting the urgent filing of legal processes because of the sensitive constitutional issues involved.
The senior advocate argued that the matter had already been determined by the courts in previous cases, including at the Court of Appeal level, describing the fresh suit as unnecessary.
“It is unfortunate that a lawyer would file such a matter when the issue has been decided previously by the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal,” he told the court.
Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that he had just been served with Jonathan’s legal processes and would require time to respond adequately.
Following the submissions, Justice Lifu adjourned the matter till May 11 for hearing of the preliminary objection and the substantive suit.
The judge also directed that hearing notices be issued to the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation, who are listed as the second and third defendants respectively.
The plaintiff, Jideobi, is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
He also wants the court to stop INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a nominated candidate for the election.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on constitutional grounds.