A Nigerian High Court sitting in Yenagoa has ruled that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest the 2023 presidential election.
The presiding judge, Justice Isa Hamma Dashen gave the judgement on Friday.
He also held that Jonathan’s right to vie for the office of president again cannot be stopped by any retroactive law.
In April, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana had earlier stated that the former president is not allowed by the constitution to contest in the upcoming 2023 presidential election.
He said the constitution bars Jonathan from seeking re-election and that his re-election will be a breach of the provision of section 37 of the 1999 constitution.
However the ruling of the Yenagoa court means Jonathan is eligible to contest in the forthcoming All Progressives Congress primaries if he desires and if he meets the party’s requirements.
Jonathan has previously denied interest in contesting for the presidency on the APC’s platform, despite having a nomination form bought on his behalf by a group.
The APC presidential primary is scheduled to hold May 29-30.
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