Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), has stated that former President Goodluck Jonathan cannot contest the 2027 presidential election because it would go against the 1999 Constitution.
Okutepa explained that Jonathan has already exhausted the maximum 8 years permitted for a president to stay in power. He said the law is clear and no one should misinterpret it.
“Under the 1999 constitution, Jonathan has already served 6 years in office. If he wins in 2027 and serves for 4 years, that will total 10 years in office. The time fixed by the constitution says 8 years,” Okutepa said.
He maintained that allowing Jonathan to run would amount to a breach of the constitution. According to him, Nigeria must respect the supreme law of the land and avoid sentiments in interpreting it.
Former President Jonathan, who became president in 2010 after the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, completed Yar’Adua’s term and later won the 2011 election.
Recall that in 2022, similar arguments surfaced when there were speculations that Jonathan might join the 2023 presidential race.
However, with the 2027 polls drawing closer, there are growing speculations that Jonathan will join the race.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
