Court Gives Verdict on Jonathan's Eligibility to Contest Presidency
- If ex-President Jonathan wants to contest 2023 presidency, there is no law stopping him, a court has ruled
- Justice Isa Hamma Dashen of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa held that Jonathan’s right to contest for the office of president again cannot be stopped by any retroactive law
- There are speculations that the former president may clinch the presidential ticket of the ruling APC ahead of 2023
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Yenagoa, Bayelsa - The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa has ruled that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest the 2023 presidential election.
The court on Friday, May, 27, held that Jonathan could still vie for the highest office in the land, Daily Trust reported.
Source: Facebook
The presiding judge, Justice Isa Hamma Dashen, who gave the judgement also held that Jonathan’s right to contest for the office of president in 2023 cannot be stopped by any retroactive law, The Punch also stated.
In an origination summons filed by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham, the plaintiffs sought an order of the court stating that Jonathan is not affected by the fourth alteration to the constitution barring Vice-Presidents who succeed their principals from serving more than one full term.
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Jonathan and the APC presidency rumour
Jonathan has been linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential race as the N100 million forms were purchased on his behalf.
However, there been been different positions on his eligibility for the 2023 presidential election.
The court ruling comes on the eve of the ruling party’s presidential contest.
APC, Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are listed as defendants in the suit.
Jonathan took over power when the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua died in 2010 and contested the 2011 election, which he won. He, however, lost his re-election bid in 2015 to President Muhammadu Buhari.
2023: Goodluck Jonathan describes ongoing party primaries as a mess
In another report, Jonathan condemned the ongoing party primaries ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He made the comment on Thursday, May 26 in Abuja at a book launch titled “Political Party Governance” authored by Dr. Mohammed Wakil, a former Minister of state, power.
He said it was disgraceful to induce delegates to get their votes and then request for refund after failing to secure tickets.
Source: Legit.ng
