Former President Goodluck Jonathan is constitutionally eligible to run in the 2023 presidential elections, according to a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
In his ruling in the FHC/YNG/CS/2022 suit filed by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham seeking a declaration that Jonathan is ineligible to run in the 2023 presidential election, Justice Isa Hamma Dashen ruled that Jonathan is qualified to run.
The plaintiffs had requested an expedited hearing, claiming that he cannot run for re-election because he has taken the oath of President twice and violates Section 137(3) of the Nigerian Constitution.
However, according to Justice Dashen’s ruling, Jonathan’s only oath of office as elected President was on May 29, 2011, after completing the aborted tenure of late President Umaru Yar’ Adua.
He also ruled that section 137 (3) cannot be applied retroactively to deny former President Jonathan the right to contest.
