Jonathan’s Eligibility for 2027 Ended by 2018 Amendment, Says Justice Salami

A former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, has stated that former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is constitutionally ineligible to run in the 2027 presidential election.

The retired justice provided a detailed legal explanation to settle renewed public debate on the ex President’s eligibility to contest in 2027, following rumours of his return to active politics.

Justice Salami clarified that a constitutional amendment enacted in 2018 explicitly bars anyone who has previously been sworn in as President to complete another person’s term and subsequently served a full four-year term from seeking re-election.

He explained that Jonathan’s succession to the presidency in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and his subsequent victory in the 2011 election, means he has already served more than one full term as defined by the Constitution.

“The law is unambiguous,” the retired jurist said. “A person who has taken the oath of office as President twice, whether by election or by constitutional succession, is ineligible to contest again. It’s not about sentiment or popularity; it’s purely a matter of constitutional interpretation.”

He specifically cited Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which states that anyone who has completed two oaths of office as President cannot be sworn in a third time. “That provision was specifically designed to prevent a situation like this from reoccurring,” Salami added.

This clarification came amid growing political speculation that Jonathan might make a comeback in the 2027 election under a coalition arrangement. Some of his supporters had argued that the 2018 amendment should not apply retroactively to his situation.

However, Justice Salami dismissed these arguments as “a misreading of the law.” He emphasised that constitutional provisions concerning eligibility are forward-looking and apply to all future elections unless explicitly exempted.

While Jonathan himself has not publicly declared any political ambition, his recent high-profile meetings and diplomatic engagements had fuelled speculation about a potential return to the political scene.