Court Ruling Clears Ex-President for Possible Third Term Bid Amid PDP Pressure
The political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential election has been thrown into fresh turbulence, as former President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that nothing in the Nigerian Constitution bars him from returning to Aso Rock.
The controversy over his eligibility, which has long divided legal experts and political actors, was dramatically clarified when a Federal High Court in Yenagoa ruled in Jonathan’s favour, affirming his right to contest again.
At the heart of the storm is Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which stipulates that no one sworn into the presidency more than twice is eligible to run again. Critics have argued that Jonathan, having first taken the oath of office in 2010 after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and again in 2011 after winning his own mandate, stands disqualified.
But Justice Isa H. Dashen, delivering a landmark judgment on May 27, 2022, dismissed those arguments, siding firmly with Jonathan’s counter-affidavit. The court held that Section 137(3) only became law in 2018, long after Jonathan left office in 2015, making it inapplicable to his case.
> “Since I took office in 2010 to complete the tenure of my late boss, and later contested and won in 2011, I have only been elected once. The 2018 amendment cannot be applied retroactively. I am, therefore, legally qualified and unstoppable,” Jonathan reportedly maintained in his filings.
APC, INEC Silent in Court
The suit, curiously filed by two self-described APC members—Andy Solomon and Ibidiye Abraham—dragged both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into the case. But in a twist that raised eyebrows, neither APC nor INEC entered an appearance nor filed any defense, a silence the judge interpreted as acquiescence to Jonathan’s position.
Citing precedent, Justice Dashen ruled that failure to counter the affidavit meant tacit admission of the facts laid out by Jonathan.
The ruling has emboldened voices within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with top figures reportedly lobbying the former president to fly the party’s flag in 2027.
Party insiders told Sunday Vanguard that Jonathan’s broad national appeal, his relatively clean image since leaving office, and his reputation as a stabilizer make him a strong candidate in a deeply divided political climate.
“Dr. Jonathan remains one of the few leaders with goodwill across Nigeria. The judgment has cleared the final hurdle—now it’s about whether he chooses to run,” a senior PDP chieftain hinted.
Analysts say the judgment is a game-changer that could reshape the battle for 2027. By ruling that the constitutional amendment of 2018 cannot apply retroactively, the court effectively kept Jonathan’s political door wide open.
Justice Dashen emphasized in his verdict:
> “The commencement date of the 4th Alteration introducing Section 137(3) is June 7, 2018. The provision cannot be applied retroactively to bar the 1st Defendant, whose right to contest predated the amendment.”
With that ruling, Jonathan’s legal hurdles have been swept aside. What remains is the political question: will he return to the ring?
For now, Jonathan is keeping Nigerians guessing—but one thing is clear: the man many thought had retired from politics is suddenly at the center of the 2027 storm, armed with both a court victory and his own declaration: “I am unstoppable.”
PIONEER NEWS 