*To Consult Widely Before Deciding
FORMER President, Goodluck Jonathan, said he will consult widely before deciding whether to join next year’s presidential race, following calls by a section of Nigerian youths on contest the election.
Jonathan, who stated this on Thursday, May 7, in Abuja, when some youths, under the aegis of ‘The Coalition for Jonathan 2027,’ stormed his office to urge him to contest on the platform of any party of his choice, stressed that seeking the highest office in the land was a significant undertaking that required deep engagement with stakeholders.
This is even as the former president, on Friday, May 8, formally opposed a lawsuit seeking to prevent him from contesting the election.
His Counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), informed Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja that Jonathan had already filed the necessary legal processes challenging the suit.
Uche said the defence submitted a conditional appearance, preliminary objection, counter-affidavit and written address on May 5, urging the court to strike out the case, saying his client legal team acted swiftly after learning about the matter through media reports.
He argued that the case centres on the former president’s eligibility to seek office again in 2027, insisting that the issue had already been settled by the courts, including the Court of Appeal.
Counsel to Johnmary Jideobi,a lawyer and the Plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, however, told the court that he had only just received Jonathan’s response and needed time to study the documents and file a reply.
Following these submissions, Justice Lifu adjourned proceedings until May 11 for hearing on both the preliminary objection and the substantive suit.
The Judge also directed that hearing notices be served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), both of whom were absent in court.
The suit was instituted by Jideobi to permanently stop Jonathan from participating in the presidential election.
He is specifically seeking an order restraining the former president from presenting himself to any political party as a presidential candidate, and to prevent INEC from recognising or publishing Jonathan’s name as a validly nominated candidate.
The suit was filed on October 6, last year, and listed Jonathan as the first defendant, INEC and the AGF as co-defendants.
The crux of the matter is whether Jonathan, having taken the oath of office twice as President, remains constitutionally eligible to contest another election under Sections 1 and 137(3) of the Nigerian Constitution.
The plaintiff maintained that INEC lacks the constitutional authority to accept Jonathan’s nomination for next year’s election or any future presidential contest, and is seeking an order compelling the AGF “to ensure compliance with the decisions and orders of this court.”
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Emmanuel Agida described the plaintiff as a defender of constitutionalism and the rule of law, who approached the court to prevent what he called a possible constitutional violation.
The affidavit recalled that Jonathan first assumed office as President on May 6, 2010, following the death of former President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, after previously serving as vice president.
It also stated that Jonathan later won the 2011 presidential election and completed a full term.
According to the affidavit, recent media reports suggested that Jonathan may be considering a return to the presidential race next year; hence the plaintiff argued that by completing Yar’Adua’s unexpired tenure and later serving a full elected term, Jonathan had already exhausted the constitutional limit of two terms in office.
The palintiff argued that if the court does not intervene timeously, a political party may present Jonathan as its presidential candidate in the coming general elections, thereby breaching the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He also argued that Jonathan could eventually contest and even win the election if the court failed to intervene, which he said could trigger constitutional disputes over presidential tenure limits and eligibility.
On the issue of legal standing, he insisted that as a lawyer, he had a responsibility to prevent constitutional breaches and defend the rule of law.
He insisted that the case was filed in the public interest and urged the court to grant all the reliefs sought to protect the supremacy of the Constitution and preserve Nigeria’s constitutional democracy
Jonathan had on Thursday told the youth who had gathered in his residence, urging him to contest the election that contesting presidency is not a computer game, adding: “I’ve heard from the young people. I will consult. I cannot just wake up and say I want to be the President of Nigeria again.
“But I’m telling you that I will consult. If there is need to, fine.”
While commending the youths for their patriotism, Jonathan stated that their interest in the country’s leadership was a sign of hope, but challenged them to go beyond advocacy to active participation in the democratic process.
He expressed concern over low voter turnout in Nigeria’s elections, reiterating the need for youths to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), saying as an international election observer in over 14 African countries and parts of South-East Asia, Nigeria’s voter turnout remained the lowest, in terms of percentage, compared to those countries.
“I have never been to a country that has the low numbers we have, in terms of percentage of voter turnout.
“I think the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needs to do something about it, their consultants need to study the root causes of voter apathy and find lasting solutions to it.
“As young people, you must be involved in the electoral process. If I ask how many of you have your voter cards now, probably 50 per cent of you don’t even have your voter cards, and you’re asking me to go and contest the presidential election.
“So, you must participate in the electoral process.”
He charged youths to continue to be patriotic to the country and committed to its peace building, saying patriotic citizens build their nations, while the unpatriotic destroy them.
Jonathan pledged to continue to advocate for peace, which he described as the key thing Nigeria needs, adding: “I will continue to advocate for peaceful and credible elections in the country, because if we don’t have peaceful and credible elections, citizens will not want to bother or get involved in politics.”
He decried the growing tendency of young professionals to seek greener pastures abroad, and the consequent “disdain” sometimes shown toward Nigerians internationally, saying the prosperity seen in developed nations was the result of long-term planning by leaders for future generations.
“The Japa syndrome in Nigeria has to stop. The highest level of disdain shown to Nigerian youths abroad has to stop.
“Even African countries that we helped; African countries that even when we were students, we were contributing part of our scholarship money to solve their problems, now see Nigeria as if we are a bunch of idiots and criminals, because probably we leaders have not been able to build our country, give hope to our young people and even attract others to come here and work.
“This is the task that faces all Nigerian leaders. These things could be done by any other person, not necessarily Jonathan.”
He acknowledging the nostalgia of sone Nigerians for the “glorious days” under his watch, when Nigeria was the largest economy in Africa, but noted that the task of nation-building could be achieved by any committed leader.
Earlier, National President of the coalition, Tom Ohikere, said their demand was for Jonathan to run for the general on any political party of his choice.
Ohikere recalled that the protesters, in their thousands, were at his office on April 8, this year, to deliver the message from millions of Nigerians, but he was not in the office.
“We are asking you to hear our cries and contest the 2027 presidential elections, sir.
“This mammoth crowed that came with us here today is a fragment of your supporters nationwide and represents every tribe and tongue, and every religious belief in this country.
“We, young and old, girls and boys, men and women, are all here crying for your voice to say ‘yes’ to our request.”
He appealled to the former president to make a commitment to run and immediately pick a presidential nomination form of any party of his choice, pledging that the coalition would join him in any party of his choice and relay millions of supporters nationwide for him, saying: “Contest the 2027 presidential election and give us the opportunity to vote for you once again.”
