2027 Presidential Election: Can Jonathan Run Again? Legal Divide Rocks Nigeria’s Political Landscape
By IDNN Legal Affairs & Politics Desk
Jonathan’s Comeback Sparks Legal Firestorm
A resurgent political move is underway to bring former President Goodluck Jonathan back into Nigeria’s highest office in 2027. But his eligibility remains at the centre of a legal standoff. The crux of the controversy lies in the Fourth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution, signed into law in 2018, which forbids any individual from being sworn in as President more than twice.
At the heart of the debate is Section 137(3) of the amended constitution, which states:
“A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”
Jonathan was first sworn in in May 2010 after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and subsequently elected in 2011. He failed to secure a second elected term in 2015.
Lawyers at War: Does the Law Apply Retroactively?
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dayo Akinlaja, insists that the amendment does not affect Jonathan, as it came into force on June 7, 2018—years after Jonathan had served.
“The relevant constitutional provisions are clear and unambiguous. Jonathan’s initial swearing-in happened before the 2018 law took effect. He is not barred,” Akinlaja said.
This position was echoed by Elekwachi Nnabuihe, another senior lawyer, who emphasized that Jonathan has only been elected once—2011—since his 2010 assumption was by constitutional necessity, not an election.
“The Constitution does not operate retroactively. Section 137(3) cannot affect events that occurred before its passage,” Nnabuihe argued.
But human rights lawyer Johnmary Jideobi disagrees, warning that Jonathan’s re-entry into the presidential race would violate the constitutional ceiling of eight years in power.
“A third attempt would contradict the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence on tenure limitation. It would be unconstitutional if he wins and serves beyond eight years,” Jideobi said, citing Marwa v. Nyako (2012).
Court Precedent: 2022 High Court Ruling Favoured Jonathan
In 2022, a Federal High Court in Yenagoa ruled in Jonathan’s favour in a similar case. Justice Isa Hamma Dashen held that the amendment could not be applied retroactively and that Jonathan’s eligibility for the 2023 election remained intact at the time.
This precedent strengthens the argument of PDP loyalists who believe the party’s former leader still holds legal ground to contest.
PDP Turns Up the Heat
Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is aggressively lobbying the former president. According to Ibrahim Abdullahi, PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Jonathan is being approached in response to popular demand from Nigerians.
“Nigerians now realise they misjudged Jonathan’s leadership. They want him back. And we’re listening,” he said.
Inside sources revealed that top PDP stakeholders even followed Jonathan to The Gambia for consultations, offering him an automatic ticket to contest under the party’s banner.
Behind the Scenes: Meetings with Power Brokers
08112935565, 08161558757
Jonathan has reportedly met with former military President Ibrahim Babangida in Minna and consulted with stakeholders across the South-South. These quiet but calculated moves hint at a serious re-entry strategy.
“He wants to serve one more term—four years—and then facilitate power shift back to the North in 2031,” a close ally revealed.
Party Elders Weigh In
PDP elder Bode George has openly declared Jonathan “eminently qualified.”
“He didn’t leave the party. He’s the easiest to sell because his record speaks—especially economically,” George said.
What This Means for 2027
If Jonathan accepts the PDP offer, the 2027 elections could become a titanic battle between him and incumbent President Bola Tinubu. Political observers say a Jonathan candidacy could completely upend Nigeria’s zoning calculus and ignite a generational shift.
Still, until the Supreme Court rules definitively, the question of eligibility remains legally unresolved.
This is IDNN. Independent. Digital. Uncompromising.