A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until Monday, May 11, 2026, a suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

The presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, fixed the new date on Friday, after counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that he had only recently been served with a preliminary objection filed by the defence and needed time to respond.

New Telegraph reports that the case has reignited legal arguments over whether Jonathan can constitutionally seek another term under the 1999 Constitution.

During proceedings, Jonathan’s lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), told the court he only became aware of the matter through media reports and had since taken steps to ensure all necessary court documents were properly filed on behalf of the former president.

Uche also questioned why the issue of Jonathan’s eligibility was resurfacing despite previous court decisions on similar matters.

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According to him, similar issues had already been determined by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.

The Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation, both listed as respondents in the suit, were absent from the proceedings.

After hearing submissions from the parties, Justice Lifu ordered that hearing notices be served on all respondents before the next adjourned date.

The suit was instituted by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is seeking declarations that Jonathan is constitutionally barred from contesting the presidency again.

The plaintiff is also asking the court to restrain the former president from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate in the 2027 election and to stop INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a presidential candidate.

At the centre of the dispute is a constitutional interpretation question raised by the plaintiff.

The suit asked the court to determine: “Whether in view of the combined provisions of sections 1(1), (2) and (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the 1st defendant is eligible, under any circumstances whatsoever, to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Jideobi argued that Jonathan had already exhausted the constitutional limit after completing the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua following his death in 2010, and later serving a full four-year term after winning the 2011 presidential election.

In an affidavit supporting the suit, Emmanuel Agida stated that the legal action became necessary following reports suggesting Jonathan was considering another presidential bid in 2027.

According to the plaintiff, allowing Jonathan to contest and possibly return to office would amount to him taking the presidential oath for a third time, an act he contends is unconstitutional.

Justice Lifu had earlier directed that hearing notices be issued and served on all defendants after observing that some parties had not filed responses in the matter.

With the latest adjournment, the court is expected to resume hearing on the constitutional questions surrounding Jonathan’s eligibility on May 11.