The clamor for former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election has been dealt a significant blow, as political analyst and historian Dr. Umar Ardo argues that constitutional provisions render Jonathan ineligible.
In a report by Vanguard Newspaper, Dr. Ardo highlights a critical clause in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution that bars Jonathan from seeking another term. Section 137(3) of the Constitution states: “A person who was sworn in as president to complete the term for which another person was elected as president shall not be elected to that office for more than a single term.”
This provision directly applies to Jonathan, who assumed the presidency in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua and later won a full term in 2011. Dr. Ardo asserts that this clause, combined with the Supreme Court’s 2012 ruling in Marwa v Nyako, which caps cumulative tenure at eight years, makes Jonathan’s candidacy legally untenable.
“A person who was sworn in as president to complete the term for which another person was elected as president shall not be elected to that office for more than a single term.”
The debate over Jonathan’s eligibility is not new. In 2013, a Federal Capital Territory High Court ruling by Justice Oniyangi suggested Jonathan could run again, but this conflicts with the Supreme Court’s authoritative stance.
Dr. Ardo, who challenged Jonathan’s eligibility in a 2014 Supreme Court case, notes that the court’s refusal to hear the matter allowed Jonathan’s 2015 candidacy, which he lost to Muhammadu Buhari. As Jonathan’s supporters tout his experience to address Nigeria’s challenges, Dr. Ardo’s legal analysis underscores insurmountable constitutional barriers.
The 2018 amendment to Section 137(3) further clarifies that individuals like Jonathan, who completed another’s term, are limited to one additional elected term. With legal clarity lacking, Nigeria’s political landscape braces for intense debate ahead of 2027.
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