A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned to May 15, 2026, the suit seeking to prevent former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, fixed the new date after the plaintiff’s counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, was absent from court without any formal explanation or letter of excuse.
Justice Lifu, however, granted the plaintiff the benefit of doubt and warned that the matter could be struck out if the plaintiff fails to appear at the next hearing.
During proceedings, counsel to Jonathan, Chris Uche, told the court that the plaintiff had shown a lack of seriousness by failing to appear in court for such an important case.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation, listed as the second and third respondents respectively, were also not represented during the hearing.
After listening to submissions by counsel to the defendant, the court adjourned the matter and directed that all parties be properly served with hearing notices before the next adjourned date.
The suit was filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to declare Jonathan constitutionally ineligible to contest for the presidency again.
Justice Lifu had earlier, on April 28, ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants following the failure of some parties to file their responses.
In the suit, the plaintiff is seeking an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for the 2027 election. He also wants the court to stop INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
Jideobi further urged the court to determine whether, based on Sections 1(1), (2), (3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan is eligible under any circumstance to seek the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria again.