Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, has stated that it would be unconstitutional for former President Goodluck Jonathan to run for and win the 2027 presidential election.
Okutepa explained that under the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan has already served six years in office. If he wins again in 2027 and completes another four-year term, that would total ten years—exceeding the constitutional limit of eight years.
On Arise Television’s news program on Tuesday, Okutepa reiterated a position he has held since 2013, when he published an article questioning Jonathan’s eligibility to seek re-election in 2015.
He based his argument on the Supreme Court ruling in Marwa vs. Nyarko, which clarifies that no individual can hold the office of governor or president for more than two terms of four years each, according to the 1999 Constitution.
Okutepa noted that Jonathan first assumed the presidency in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, finishing the remaining two years of that term before winning his own four-year term in 2011.
He also referenced the Fourth Alteration Act of 2018, which explicitly states that anyone sworn in to complete another president’s term can only be elected for one additional full term.
Okutepa said, “Back in 2013, I wrote an article questioning whether President Goodluck Jonathan was qualified to run for re-election in 2015, and it was widely published.”
His argument rested on the Supreme Court’s decision in Marwa versus Nyarko, which clearly affirms that under the 1999 Constitution, a person can only serve two terms of four years as governor or president.
It is undisputed that Goodluck Jonathan was vice president when President Yar’Adua passed away, and he served two years completing Yar’Adua’s tenure. He was then elected for his own four-year term.
When Jonathan sought re-election in 2015, Okutepa maintained that he was not constitutionally eligible to run, based on the Supreme Court’s interpretation of term limits.
He explained simply: the 1999 Constitution, under which Yar’Adua and Jonathan were elected, limits a president to two terms. Jonathan became president after Yar’Adua’s death, serving two years of that term before being elected for a full term of four years—totaling six years served.
If Jonathan runs and wins in 2027 for another four years, that would add up to ten years—contradicting the constitutional eight-year limit upheld by the Supreme Court.
Additionally, the Fourth Alteration Act of 2018 clarified that a person sworn in to complete another president’s term may only be elected once thereafter.
Okutepa concluded, “Jonathan did complete Yar’Adua’s tenure and was elected for one term under the 1999 Constitution.”
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