Jonathan barred from 2027 presidential race as Dr. Ardo cites constitutional limits

DDM News

(DDM) – Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s chances of contesting the 2027 presidential election have suffered a major setback following a strong legal argument presented by political analyst and historian, Dr. Umar Ardo.

DDM gathered that Dr. Ardo, in an in-depth analysis published in Vanguard Newspaper, pointed to specific constitutional provisions that he says make Jonathan ineligible to run.

Central to his argument is Section 137(3) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which states: “A person who was sworn in as president to complete the term for which another person was elected as president shall not be elected to that office for more than a single term.”

According to Dr. Ardo, this provision directly applies to Jonathan, who assumed the presidency in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and subsequently won a full term in 2011.

Dr. Ardo further noted that the Supreme Court’s 2012 ruling in Marwa v Nyako reinforces the constitutional cap, limiting any president’s cumulative tenure to a maximum of eight years.

He stressed that Jonathan’s political history falls squarely within this restriction, making any fresh bid for the presidency unconstitutional.

The legal scholar recalled that the debate over Jonathan’s eligibility is not new.

In 2013, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court ruled that Jonathan could run again, but this decision stands in direct conflict with the Supreme Court’s more authoritative interpretation.

Dr. Ardo himself challenged Jonathan’s eligibility in a 2014 Supreme Court case, but the apex court declined to hear the matter.

That decision effectively cleared the way for Jonathan’s 2015 candidacy, which ultimately ended in defeat to Muhammadu Buhari.

Supporters of the former president have continued to argue that his experience and track record position him as a viable candidate to address Nigeria’s mounting socio-economic and security challenges.

However, Dr. Ardo insists that no amount of political goodwill can override the clear constitutional limits.

He also referenced the 2018 amendment to Section 137(3), which explicitly reinforces the one-term limit for any president who first completed another’s tenure.

This amendment, he said, removes any lingering ambiguity and strengthens the legal position against Jonathan’s return bid.

The development is expected to ignite fresh debate in Nigeria’s political space as the country inches closer to the 2027 elections.

With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yet to release the official timetable, political camps are already positioning themselves for what promises to be a fiercely contested race.

For Jonathan’s camp, Dr. Ardo’s legal warning may represent not just a political hurdle, but a definitive constitutional roadblock.

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