By David Torough, Abuja

Two landmark judgments delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday have reshaped the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election, with the court affirming former President Goodluck Jonathan’s eligibility to contest the presidency and upholding the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue and adjust election timetables.

In the first ruling, Justice Peter Lifu held that Jonathan remains constitutionally qualified to seek the presidency in 2027, dismissing a suit filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi challenging the former president’s eligibility.

The plaintiff had argued that Jonathan, having completed the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s tenure and subsequently won the 2011 election, had exhausted the constitutional two-term limit for presidents.

Jideobi sought an order restraining Jonathan from contesting the election and stopping INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a candidate. He also argued that another term would amount to a third oath of office as president, contrary to the 1999 Constitution.

However, Justice Lifu ruled that the suit lacked merit and described it as an abuse of the court process. The judge held that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing to institute the case because he failed to show any personal injury or loss arising from Jonathan’s possible ambition.

The court further noted that previous judgments by the Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal had already affirmed Jonathan’s eligibility to contest again, adding that the decisions remained binding.

Justice Lifu consequently awarded N20 million costs against the plaintiff in favour of Jonathan and an additional N1 million in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation. He also dismissed a separate application seeking his withdrawal from the case, describing it as frivolous.

In a separate judgment, Justice James Omotosho affirmed INEC’s constitutional and statutory powers to issue election timetables and schedules of activities for political parties ahead of elections.

The ruling followed a suit filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which challenged aspects of INEC’s 2027 election timetable, arguing that the electoral body lacked powers to fix timelines for party primaries and submission of membership registers.

The SDP also contended that portions of the timetable violated provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, particularly regarding deadlines for submission, substitution and withdrawal of candidates.

Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho held that INEC possesses the legal authority under the Constitution and the Electoral Act to issue and amend election timetables in order to ensure orderly conduct of elections.

The judge described the timetable as “a chain of events” necessary for the smooth administration of elections, including timelines for party primaries, submission of membership registers and nomination processes.

He, however, ruled that while INEC could issue and alter timetables, it could not abridge statutory timelines expressly provided in the Electoral Act.

The court specifically faulted deadlines fixed by INEC for withdrawal and substitution of candidates, holding that the commission acted beyond its powers by shortening the 90-day period stipulated by law.

Justice Omotosho therefore ordered INEC to amend aspects of the 2027 Election Timetable and Schedule of Activities to bring them in line with Sections 29(1) and 31 of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The court nevertheless upheld INEC’s authority to request political parties’ membership registers and prescribe timelines for the conduct of party primaries.

Youth Party Suit Hypothetical, Lacks Merit, Says Commission

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja to overturn the Federal High Court judgment that nullified its revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.

The commission also filed an application seeking a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of its appeal.

In the notice of appeal dated May 25 and filed through its lead counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, INEC raised nine grounds challenging the May 20 judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a suit instituted by the Youth Party (YP).

INEC argued that the trial court erred in law by failing to determine the jurisdictional objection it raised that the suit was hypothetical and academic, a development it said amounted to a denial of fair hearing.

The commission further faulted the court’s interpretation of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, insisting that the law did not preclude it from issuing timelines and schedules to guide political parties in the conduct of primaries and other pre-election activities.

According to INEC, the lower court wrongly held that the electoral body lacked statutory powers to prescribe timeframes for political parties to conduct primaries for the nomination of candidates ahead of the 2027 polls.

The commission also contended that the trial judge failed to apply the provisions of Section 151 of the Electoral Act, 2026 to the matter.

Consequently, INEC urged the appellate court to allow the appeal, set aside the judgment and strike out the suit filed by the Youth Party on the grounds that the party lacked the locus standi to institute and maintain the action.

Justice Umar had ruled that INEC’s revised timetable imposed restrictive deadlines on political parties contrary to the Electoral Act, 2026, and declared that the commission had no legal authority to fix timelines for party primaries beyond what is provided in the law.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

President Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, polled 277,192 votes in the direct primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the 105 wards in the eight local government areas of the state.

Governor Douye Diri, who served as the state’s Coordinator/Collation Officer for the presidential primary, declared the results at the collation centre at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa.

His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted Governor Diri as saying that the peaceful conduct of the exercise across the state, from the presidential to the National Assembly and the House of Assembly primaries, showed a shift from the party’s “toxic” primaries previously in the state.

He stressed that no single individual could win an election without collective support, urging members to close ranks ahead of the 2027 general election.

His words: “As our party chairman already informed us, the party at the national level graciously asked me to be the returning officer and the chief collation officer.

“You have conducted yourselves so well. The exercise has been peaceful, calm, and in some areas more of a festive mood.

“To all those who contested and lost, you still have to be party men. I’m seeing a lot of them here, and that shows they are sportsmen. They belong to APC and they are going nowhere,” he said.

The Bayelsa helmsman stated that with the party’s unity and the strength of incumbency at both the state and federal levels, APC was well-positioned to dominate the elections.

“If all of these people here will go back to our wards, can’t we deliver? Can anybody beat us in Bayelsa State? It is a very big capital No.

“We have the human beings that know the strategies of elections. With our numerical strength and incumbency, it is game over in Bayelsa State,” he said.

Giving a breakdown of the results presented by the returning officers in each of the local government areas, he said Tinubu scored 39,454 in Brass, Ekeremor 45,949,
Kolokuma/Opokuma 22,593, and
Nembe 32,487.

The president also got 24,896 in Ogbia, Sagbama 46,283
Southern Ijaw 34,692 and
Yenagoa 30,834.

His only challenger, Mr. Stanley Osifo, got only five votes from Yenagoa local government area.

Earlier, speaking to party faithful and supporters after the exercise in his Sampou/Kalama Ward 6 in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area, the governor said the APC remained the only party offering hope to Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

He said while there were two contestants in the presidential primary, the president was the overwhelmingly preferred choice among party members due to his leadership record and national visibility.

Diri acknowledged the reforms undertaken by the current administration were painful but maintained that they were necessary as the country would ultimately be repositioned for long-term prosperity.

He also expressed confidence that the restructuring of Nigeria was possible under Tinubu, describing him as one of the few leaders with the experience, democratic credentials, and political will to transform the country.

According to him, restructuring remains critical to addressing the nation’s recurring ethnic, religious, and political challenges.

Citing Tinubu’s role in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle and his involvement in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) during the military era, he said the president was one of the best-qualified leaders to champion the restructuring agenda.

Collation of the results was observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner in Bayelsa, Isah Ehimeakhe, the commission’s Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Eme Akpa, ‎as well as the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Daniel Iyamah and service commanders

In attendance were the Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, Senator Konbowei Benson (Bayelsa Central), House of Representatives members, Oforji Oboku (Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma federal constituency) and Rodney Ambaiowei (Southern Ijaw federal constituency) as well as the State APC Chairman, Hon. Warman Ogoriba

Also present were the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, his counterpart in Niger Delta Basin Development Authority, Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, among other party stalwarts, stakeholders and members.