2023: Court Set To Decide Jonathan’s Eligibility To Contest For Presidency
A Federal High Court in Yenagoa will give its verdict on the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2023 presidential election.
Naija News recalls that Jonathan was inaugurated as Nigeria’s President in 2010 following the death of his principal, late Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007.
In 2015, while running for another term, a court ruled that Jonathan was eligible to contest as his first inauguration was done to complete Yar’Adua’s tenure.
However, in 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the fourth alteration of the 1999 Constitution which bars Vice Presidents who succeed their principals from serving more than one full term.
However, in an origination summons filed by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham, the plaintiffs are seeking an order of the court stating that Jonathan is not affected by the fourth alteration.
The plaintiffs requested an accelerated hearing via a motion ex parte which was granted by Justice Isa Dashen to allow Jonathan to participate in the APC primary slated for Sunday, May 30.
The presiding judge, however, fixed May 27 for the ruling after the respondents have been served and the defendants had filed their responses.
The defendants in the suit marked FHC/YNG/CS/86/2022 are the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
If granted the permission to contest the APC presidential primary, Jonathan will slug it out with the likes of the APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President Ahmad Lawan; the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Governor Dave Umahi, Governor Ben Ayade, Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Governor Badaru Abubakar, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Senator Ajayi Boroffice and among others.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News
