The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa has ruled that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest the 2023 presidential election.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Isa Hamma Dashen, gave the judgement on Friday.
He also held that Jonathan’s right to vie for the office of president again cannot be stopped by any retroactive law.
As of the time of publishing this report, the former Nigerian president has not issued an official comment about the ruling.
READ ALSO: Abaribe Resigns As Senate Minority Leader, Dumps PDP For APGA
The ruling adds to the twists ahead of the 2023 general elections. A coalition of northern groups had bought the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination and expression of interest forms for the former Bayelsa State governor months after speculations emerged that he will join the ruling party.
In the wake of the development, his media aide Ikechukwu Eze, however, said his principal did not consent to the decision.
While reports suggested that Jonathan had registered as an APC member in his Otuoke, Bayelsa hometown, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insisted that the former vice president is still in its fold.
Jonathan served as vice president between 2007 and 2010 but became president in May 2010 after President Musa Yar’ Adua (to complete the latter’s tenure).
He thereafter contested for the presidential seat in 2011 and won.
But he failed to retain the position after losing to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
An 18-year-old Ikee was named MVP of the 2018 Asian Games after claiming six golds…
The list was released hours after the slain soldiers were buried in a ceremony attended…
Those killed included a 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman and two men aged 49 and…
Mounting calls for the dialogue to be postponed or reorganised have been heard from a…
The announcement of the official provisional results seems to clear the way for a handover…
The security expert said the government needs to explain to Nigerians circumstances around the release…