Former President Gets Waiver
A Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, will today (Friday), rule on the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the presidential election.
This is coming at a time the All Progressives Congress granted the Jonathan waiver to contest, even as the Presidency cabal led by the President’s influential nephew, Mamman Daura, had given it’s full support in order for the former President to succeed Buhari.
At evenfall on Thursday, one of Jonathan’s aides had said, “The road is now fully clear, we give God the glory.”
In another message sent to a correspondent, a source revealed that “GEJ has finally been given the waiver, and he will contest on Sunday.”
In an origination summons filed by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham, the plaintiffs are seeking an order of the court stating that Jonathan is not affected by the fourth alteration to the constitution barring Vice-Presidents who succeed their principals from serving more than one full term.
In order to ensure that judgment is delivered hastily before the APC primary which is slated for Sunday, the plaintiffs requested an accelerated hearing via a motion ex parte, and was granted by the court.
In the suit marked FHC/YNG/CS/86/2022 which is before Justice Isa Dashen, the All Progressives Congress, Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission are listed as defendants.
It was learnt that after affidavits, counter-affidavits and further affidavits had been filed, Justice Dashen fixed May 27 for judgment.
Newsmen also learnt that Jonathan may be taking part in the Presidential primary of the APC slated for May 30, should the court give him the go-ahead to contest coupled with the support he is receiving from the President’s men.
Speaking to journalists, political analyst and Convener, Deji Adeyanju, who advised the former President to ignore those wooing him, said it was morally wrong for the APC to attempt to sell Jonathan to Nigerians after demonising him for many years.
Adeyanju, maintained that bringing Jonathan on board was a good strategy for the North to quickly return to power since the former President cannot spend more than a term.
“It is a good strategy by the North to give the South power for one term. It makes sense politically. However, I believe it is the turn of the South-East in the interest of equity. Constitutionally, Jonathan can still contest. No law should have retroactive effect because it is against the ethics of law”.