Once more, a lawsuit to bar Goodluck Jonathan from running for president in 2027 is unsuccessful.

Another setback has occurred in the hearing process for a lawsuit brought by attorney Johnmary Jideobi to prevent former President Goodluck Jonathan from running for president in 2027.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, was not present in court on Friday, therefore Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja’s definitive hearing of the lawsuit was unsuccessful.

When the case initially came up for hearing on May 11, INEC also abstained from the court.

The third defendant in his own lawsuit, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, informed the court on Friday that he had never received an initial summons from the plaintiff to appear or submit a procedure.

In response to the two challenges, Justice Lifu determined that moving the hearing forward would be in the best interests of justice and a fair trial.

The judge then scheduled a hearing for May 18 and ordered the plaintiff to clean up his home by delivering the original summons and hearing materials to the right person.

On May 11, Justice Lifu scheduled the suit’s final hearing for May 15.

After the plaintiff, Jideobi, and his attorney failed to appear in court on May 11 without providing any information, the judge was compelled to reschedule the hearing.

In addition to the plaintiff, a lawyer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and the Minister of Justice, the second and third defendants in the case, were not present in court on May 11.

Chris Uche, SAN, on behalf of former President Goodluck Jonathan, requested that the lawsuit be dismissed for lack of diligent prosecution after the plaintiff and the two defendants were absent.

Due to their mutual disagreements, Uche stated that the lawsuit might be dismissed and that Jonathan would receive a N5 million cost award against the plaintiff.

In order to prevent Jonathan from running for office in 2027, the plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi, filed a lawsuit.

Additionally, he is requesting that the court prevent INEC from accepting, processing, or disseminating Jonathan’s name as a potential presidential candidate.

According to provisions 1(1), (2), (3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the plaintiff in the lawsuit requested that the court decide whether Jonathan is still qualified to run for Nigeria’s highest office under any circumstances.

The lawsuit claims that after serving a full four-year term after the 2011 election and finishing the term of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Jonathan had already used up the office’s constitutional limit.

According to an affidavit submitted by Emmanuel Agida in support of the lawsuit, Jonathan became President on May 6, 2010, following Yar’Adua’s death the day before.

According to Agida, the decision to file the lawsuit in court was influenced by rumors that Jonathan would be interested in the 2027 election.

According to the affidavit, “the plaintiff believes that the first defendant has exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures as president, having completed the unexpired term of late President Yar’Adua and served a full term after the 2011 election.”

The complaint additionally contended that a political party might nominate Jonathan for the election in violation of the constitution unless the court steps in.

The document states that Jonathan would be taking the presidential oath of office for the third time if he runs for office and wins.

According to Agida, the lawsuit was launched to protect Nigeria’s constitutional order, respect the supremacy of the constitution, and serve the public interest.