Elections 2015: Court To Decide Jonathan’s Fate February 11

As the 2015 presidential election draws nearer, the clamour for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, President Goodluck Jonathan, to step down has continued to grow among some Nigerians.


The Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday fixed February 11 as the date it would hear a fresh suit seeking to disqualify President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the February 14 presidential election.

The trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, fixed the date after listening to counsel for the plaintiffs, Yusuf Alli (SAN), and Jonathan’s counsel, Olatunji Salaudeen.

The plaintiffs in the originating summons, Prof Tunde Samuel, Dr Junaidu Mohammed, Rasak Adeogun and Yahaya Ndu, asked the court to prevent Jonathan from contesting the election.

They argued that Jonathan was constitutionally ineligible to seek re-election in 2015 because that would allow him to occupy the office of president for more than eight years.

The plaintiffs therefore urged the court to declare that it was unconstitutional for any person to occupy the office of president for more than a cumulative period of eight years.

According to them, such a scenario can only happen when the country is at war‎.

They stated that in computing the period already spent in office as president by Jonathan, the period from May 6, 2010, to May 28, 2011, should counted.

They therefore asked the court to declare that having spent a period of more than four years in office from May 6, 2010, Jonathan is ineligible to contest for another term.

Two similar cases are pending before the same court, while another is before the Court of Appeal for determination.

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