Former President Goodluck Jonathan has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit seeking to prevent him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

At Friday’s hearing, Jonathan’s counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told Justice Peter Lifu that he had filed a conditional appearance, a notice of preliminary objection, a counter-affidavit, and a written address on May 5, urging the court to throw out the case.

Uche said his team learned of the suit through media reports and moved quickly due to its implications for Jonathan’s eligibility. He described it as unfortunate that a fellow lawyer had filed the case, noting that the issue of Jonathan’s eligibility had already been decided by the Federal High Court and upheld by the Court of Appeal.

The plaintiff’s counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, said the matter was listed for mention but he had only just been served with Jonathan’s processes and requested time to respond.

Justice Lifu adjourned the case to May 11 at 2 p.m. for the hearing of Jonathan’s objection and the substantive suit. The judge also ordered that hearing notices be served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), listed as the 2nd and 3rd defendants, who were absent in court.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025 and filed on October 6, 2025, by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, seeks a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself as a presidential candidate for any political party. It also asks the court to bar INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a nominated candidate.

Jonathan is named as the 1st defendant, with INEC and the AGF listed as the 2nd and 3rd defendants.