The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reportedly backed by influential party leaders including Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has welcomed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja affirming the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The court’s ruling, delivered by the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, held that Jonathan remains constitutionally qualified to seek the nation’s highest office despite having previously taken the presidential oath of office twice, effectively clearing a major legal hurdle ahead of the PDP’s presidential primaries.
In a statement issued by the party’s Interim National Working Committee and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP described the judgment as a victory for constitutional order, democratic principles, and common sense.
According to the party, the court’s decision aligns squarely with the law, stressing that legal provisions cannot be applied retroactively to disqualify Jonathan from participating in the 2027 race.
The PDP also criticised the suit challenging Jonathan’s eligibility, describing it as vexatious and a gross abuse of judicial process, arguing that the matter should never have been brought before the court.
“The punitive cost awarded against the plaintiff is highly commendable and should serve as a deterrent to political irritants and busybodies who make themselves available for use by anti-democratic forces seeking to distract and derail the nation’s democratic process,” the statement read.
The party further revealed that it had already granted former President Jonathan a screening waiver, a move interpreted by political observers as a strong indication of internal consensus and strategic backing for his possible return to the presidential contest.
With the PDP’s primaries scheduled to hold on May 28, 2026, the court judgment is seen as significantly strengthening Jonathan’s pathway toward what party leaders have described as a potential “presidential rescue mission” for Nigeria.
The development is expected to reshape political calculations across party lines, as Jonathan’s possible return to the ballot could alter the dynamics of the 2027 presidential race and reignite national debate over leadership, continuity, and democratic renewal.