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Lawyer asks court to stop Jonathan from contesting 2027 presidential election

A lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, on Monday, prayed the Federal High Court in Abuja to bar ex-President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting 2027 presidential election.

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Citing constitutional grounds, Jideobi urged the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in the country for the purpose of contesting in the poll.

He also urged the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting from any political party, Jonathan’s name or publishing same as a duly nominated candidate for the election.

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Th News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jideobi had, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, sued the former president as 1st defendant.

In the suit dated and filed on Oct. 6, the lawyer joined INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

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He sought one question for determination, which is:

“Whether in view of the combined provisions of the entirety Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and their conflated interpretation, the 1st defendant is eligible, under any circumstances [whatsoever] to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”

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Citing Sections 1(1), (2) & (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended , he argued that INEC lacks the constitutional power to receive from any political party the name of the Jonathan for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holding in 2027 and other years to come.

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As well as, “an order of this Honourable Court directing the 3rd defendant (AGF) to ensure compliance with the decisions and orders of this court.”

In an affidavit of facts that was deposed in support of the suit by one Emmanuel Agida, the plaintiff told the court that he is an advocate of constitutionalism and the rule of law.

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He told the court that the 1st defendant was first sworn in as President on May 6, 2010, following the death of then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on the May 5, 2010, having previously been the Vice-President.

He said he recently saw on various national dailies and television stations, reports on Jonathan’s intention to contest for presidency in 2027.

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“That the plaintiff believes that the 1st defendant, having completed the unexpired term of late President Yar’Adua and subsequently served a full term after the 2011 election, has exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures as President.

“That if the court does not intervene timeously, a political party may present the 1st defendant as its presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, thereby breaching the constitution.”

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On his locus standi (legal right) to institute the action, the plaintiff maintained that part of his duties, as a lawyer, is to forestall a violation of the constitution and to uphold the rule of law.

“There are chances that one of the political parties in Nigeria may favour the 1st defendant to stand as its presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2027 general elections to be conducted and overseen by the 2nd defendant.

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” If unchallenged, the 1st defendant may enter the 2027 presidential race on the platform of one of the political parties in Nigeria and may possibly emerge the winner of the said election.

“In the event the 1st defendant is returned as elected and sworn as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come in 2027, it will mark the 3rd time the 1st defendant will be taking oath of office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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“In the event the 1st defendant is returned as elected and sworn as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come in 2027, the plaintiff as a Nigerian citizen, would become one of the those under the governance control of the 1st defendant [who by virtue of his office would be saddled with the responsibility of executing the laws of the country].

“As a Nigerian lawyer trained in Nigerian constitutional law, the plaintiff has come across a provision in the Nigerian constitution stating that 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 such office for more than a single term.

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“The plaintiff knows that the 1st defendant was indeed, on the 6th May, 2010, sworn in as President to complete the term for which (former) President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was elected as President as a consequence of the demise of the former President on the 5th day of May, 2010.

“The 1st defendant after being sworn in on 6th May, 2010 to complete the term of late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was subsequently elected into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and sworn in on the 27th May, 2011.

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” I know that if the 1st defendant eventually wins the forthcoming 2027 general election as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (which is for a term of 4 years spanning 2027 to 2031), he will have exceeded 8 years being the cumulative maximum years a Nigerian President is to stay in office.

“”The plaintiff has instituted this suit in the public interest, in the defence of the rule of law and accentuation of the supremacy of the Constitution and to preserve the integrity of the Nigerian Constitutional order.

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“It will be in the interest of justice for this Honourable Court to grant the prayers contained on the face of this Originating Summons,” the affidavit further read.

The suit is yet to be assigned to a judge as at the time of this report.(NAN)

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80 repentant militants surrender arms, assorted weapons to Nigerian Army

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80 repentant militants surrender arms, assorted weapons to Nigerian Army

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the voluntary surrender of 80 militants in Cross River State under the amnesty programme of the state government.

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The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters 13 Brigade, Maj. Yemi Sokoya, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

Sokoya said that the militants surrendered in the early hours of Friday, at Atimbo Rear Area, following Operation OKWOK, in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, within the area of responsibility of the 13 Brigade.

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According to him, the repentant militants emerged from two camps, with one group led by ThankGod Ebikontei, also known as Ayibanuagha, presenting 39 fighters.

He said that the second camp, headed by John Isaac, also known as Akpokolo, submitted 41 fighters.

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Sokoya added that assorted arms, ammunition and other items, were also voluntarily surrendered during the exercise.

He said that these included: rifles, pump-action guns, single-barrel weapons, magazines, ammunition, speed boats, boat engines and other military-related equipment.

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The Commander, 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Paul Alimikhena, described the development as a major confidence-building milestone.

He attributed it to sustained military operations, constructive engagement and effective collaboration with the Cross River State Government and other security agencies.

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He said that the brigade would continue to provide a secure environment, while supporting lawful initiatives aimed at reintegrating repentant youths, and ensuring lasting peace across in the area.

The commander said that the surrendered militants had been handed over to the Cross River State Government’s Rapid Response Team and were undergoing profiling by the state’s Department of State Services (DSS).

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He commended the State Government, under Gov. Bassey Otu, for its commitment to peace and security.

He also urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information. (NAN)

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My Husband wants to have s3x with me eight times everynight – Housewife cries for help

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My Husband wants to have s3x with me eight times everynight – Housewife cries for help

A Harare woman, Melocia Gwata, has successfully obtained a court-issued protection order against her husband, George Kusotera, following allegations of excessive sexual demands and physical abuse.

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The case was heard at the Harare Civil Court before Magistrate Judith Taruvinga, where Melocia detailed the severity of her ordeal. She told the court that her husband had coerced her into sexual activity up to eight times a night, resorting to violence whenever she refused.

“He wants to have s3x every day and wakes me up in the middle of the night, even after we’ve been intimate countless times on the same day,” Melocia stated.

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She further described how the abuse extended beyond physical coercion, with George allegedly threatening divorce and verbally assaulting her in front of their children.

“He has been assaulting me in front of our children, shouting obscenities and telling them I don’t deserve to be called their mother,” she added, highlighting the emotional toll the behaviour has taken on her and the family.

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In response, George acknowledged his actions, apologising to his wife and attributing his conduct to love. “I did not realise I was making her uncomfortable. I apologise and promise not to physically abuse her anymore,” he told the court.

After hearing both sides, Magistrate Taruvinga granted Melocia a protection order, legally preventing her husband from further abuse and ensuring her safety.

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Scores of terrorists neutralised after Major attacks on military base

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Scores of terrorists neutralised after Major attacks on military base

Nigerian troops have successfully neutralised several terrorists and thwarted coordinated attacks in Adamawa and Borno States.

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The Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, announced that the successes followed swift and decisive responses by soldiers to attempts by insurgents to overrun military formations in the North-East.

In a statement issued on Friday, Acting Media Information Officer of the Task Force, Lieutenant Solomon Atokolo, confirmed that the operations resulted in heavy casualties for the terrorists.

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He explained that the first attack took place in the early hours of January 16, 2026, when insurgents targeted a patrol base at Sabon Gari in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Atokolo stated that troops under Sector 4 of Operation Hadin Kai quickly engaged the attackers and successfully repelled them. He added that reinforcements from Gulak and the Battalion Quick Reaction Force were promptly mobilised to support the operation, ensuring that the assault was decisively crushed.

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“The terrorists were successfully repelled without any casualty to our troops or damage to equipment, forcing them to abandon the attack,” the statement said.

He added that security forces later carried out clearance operations in the surrounding area, scanning for improvised explosive devices and booby traps to guarantee the safety of both civilians and personnel.

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In a separate incident on the same day, terrorists staged a large-scale, multi-directional attack on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Azir in Borno State.

The attackers attempted to breach the base’s defensive perimeter but were met with fierce resistance from troops. With support from the Air Component and other Nigerian Army aerial platforms, the soldiers unleashed sustained firepower that compelled the insurgents to retreat.

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Although rocket-propelled grenade fire from the terrorists damaged some troop-carrying vehicles and partially affected the base’s CCTV control room, Atokolo said troops maintained full control of the situation and prevented any further breach.

The military spokesperson disclosed that several weapons and ammunition were recovered from the fleeing terrorists.

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Items seized included a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, locally fabricated explosives, heavy machine gun rounds, and hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.

The Joint Task Force commended the professionalism and resilience of the troops, reaffirming its commitment to sustaining operations aimed at restoring lasting peace and security to the North-East region.

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