Controversies have trailed the presidential primaries of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike jostle for the party’s ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.
The heightened tension within the ADC followed the Federal High Court judgment delivered on Tuesday in Abuja, which cleared former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election. Justice Peter Lifu dismissed a suit filed by Abuja-based lawyer Johnmary Jideobi seeking to bar Jonathan from running, ruling that the former president remains eligible under the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Justice Lifu held that Section 137(3) of the Constitution, which restricts any person from taking the oath of office of president more than twice, could not be applied retroactively to Jonathan, who completed the tenure of the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later served a single elected term between 2011 and 2015. The court also awarded N21 million costs against the plaintiff – N20 million in Jonathan’s favour and N1 million for the Attorney-General of the Federation – describing the suit as an abuse of court process.
With the legal hurdle now removed, Jonathan’s potential entry into the 2027 race has further complicated permutations within the ADC, where top political heavyweights, including Atiku, Kwankwaso and Wike, are said to be positioning themselves for the party’s presidential ticket. Party insiders say the primaries could become a major battleground as different power blocs try to secure the ticket for their preferred aspirants.
Analysts note that the court’s decision has reshaped the 2027 presidential landscape, making the ADC primaries one of the most closely watched contests as parties and candidates adjust their strategies in light of Jonathan’s restored eligibility.
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