Recall that a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, last week gave Jonathan the right of first refusal for its presidential ticket.
The legal hurdle in the path of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s participation in next year’s presidential election has been removed.
This follows the verdict of an Abuja Federal High Court which ruled that the former president is eligible to run for the presidency again.
Recall that a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, last week gave Jonathan the right of first refusal for its presidential ticket.
The party also offered to make Jonathan the only presidential candidate for next year’s general election.
However, one Johnmary Jideobi approached the court to secure an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The plaintiff had earlier prayed the court to stop INEC from accepting, processing or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
He asked the court to determine whether, having regard to Sections 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan remains eligible to seek the office of president again.
But in his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu held that Jonathan could participate in the election as a contestant.
Should Jideobi not appeal the high court ruling to the appellate court, the ruling is expected to put an end to the controversy surrounding Jonathan’s eligibility to run for the presidency again, having served as president between 2010 and 2015.
