As we approach the 2027 general presidential election, court has cleared former president, Goodluck Jonathan to run for president in 2027.
This is a very strong pivot in the political sector of Nigeria. There are concerns and worries regarding what the 2027 general presidential election is going to look like with Goodluck Jonathan to run for president.
What the Court Decided on Tuesday May 26
Goodluck Jonathan to Run for President in 2027. Before the court’s decision of the court, there have been propaganda against Goodluck Jonathan to run for president that he was not eligible to contest in the 2027 general election.
Johnmary Jideobi, who is a lawyer suit a case whose intention is to disqualify Goodluck Jonathan from contesting for the 2027 general presidential election in Nigeria.
His argument was that Jonathan had already taken the oath of the presidential office two times. He said the first was when he was sworn in as the substantive President of Nigeria after Umaru Yar’Adua’s death.
Secondly, he was sworn in as the president in 2011 after he won the 2011 general presidential election.
The plaintiff relied on Section 137(3) of the 1999 amended Constitution, which states that a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if they have been elected to that office on two previous occasions.
So, this led to a court case which was addressed in the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, May 26. The judge, Justice Peter Lifu, said the case has been handled before in the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and in the Court of Appeal.
The judge said that the case is frivolous and an abuse of court process, which amounts to a waste of the court’s precious time.
Thereafter, the court reaffirmed that Jonathan’s oath taken in 2010 is not considered as a full elected term under the constitution for the purpose of the two-term limit.
It is only the oath taken in 2011 that is considered as one term, so he has another term left if he wants to contest for the presidential position. This makes him eligible and qualified for the 2027 general election.
How the PDP Is Reacting and What It Means for Their Primary on May 28
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have seen this as an edge to win the interest of the masses towards the forth coming election. There have been internal crisis in the party which has led to majority of political icons to leave the party. So, they believed Jonathan will bring back the interest and focus of the masses towards the party.
A faction of the party under Kabiru Tanimu Turaki had already offered Jonathan a waiver as the only presidential candidate of the party. The party sees that the major legal obstacles to stop Jonathan from contesting have been defeated and the court has already approved him.
What Jonathan Has Said About Running
The whole ongoing drama does not mean that Jonathan has agreed to contest for the 2027 general presidential election. Goodluck Jonathan has not declared he is going to contest for the 2027 general election, even thou there have been lot of pressure on him that he should contest for the election.
He has repeated the following statement several times in his conversation:
“I cannot just wake up and say I want to be the president of Nigeria again.”
He said the election is not just a computer process; he would have to consult widely.
He is listening to the pressure and consultations, but has not accepted the nomination form.
Final Thoughts as Court Cleared Former President Goodluck Jonathan to Run for President in 2027
Since the news that the court has cleared former President Goodluck Jonathan to run for president in 2027, there have been worries in other political parties.
This is because If Jonathan eventually runs for the president in 2027 general election, it is going to change the permutation of the election because Jonathan is a prominent person with firsthand experience in Nigerian Politics.
He has more loyalists in the South-South and parts of the North.
Thank you, guy, for taking the time to read our news on easysmalltalk. We would love to hear from you. Your comments are important; we would like to hear though, about Goodluck Jonathan’s attempt to run for the presidential candidate going on now in Nigeria.
