Breaking: ex-President Jonathan eligible to contest in 2023, court rules

The coast is now clear for former President Goodluck Jonathan as a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa has ruled that he is fit and constitutionally qualified to contest the 2023 presidential poll.

In a ruling on Friday, Justice Isa Hamma Dashen declared Jonathan’s eligibility and qualification to contest for president again.

Persecondnews recalls that a suit FHC/YNG/CS/2022 filed by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham had sought court’s declaration that Jonathan is ineligible to contest the 2023 presidential election.

The plaintiffs had demanded an accelerated hearing of the case, insisting that by virtue of the fact that he has taken oath of President twice and that by the provision of Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan cannot seek re-election.

Justice Dashen said the only oath of office taken by Jonathan as elected President was in May 29, 2011 after he completed the aborted tenure of the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua.

He also ruled that the provisions of Section 137 (3) cannot apply retroactively to deny former President Jonathan the right to contest.