President Goodluck Jonathan has told an Abuja Federal High Court that he is eligible to contest the presidential election in 2015, even if it would mean staying in office for a total of more than eight years from the date he was initially inaugurated as President on May 6, 2010, following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua.
The President made the statement through his lawyer, Mr. Ade Okeaya-Inneh, SAN, in response to a suit in which a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Mr. Henry Amadi, asked the court to declare that Jonathan no longer qualified to run for office in 2015.
Amadi had argued that in doing so, Jonathan would be spending more than the constitutionally stipulated maximum period of eight years in office.
The plaintiff said he was a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The suit is similar to another one filed by another self-declared member of the PDP, Chief Cyriacus Njoku, before an Abuja High Court.
Njoku’s suit, which asked the court to stop Jonathan from running for office in 2015 on the grounds that he was currently serving his second term in office, having taken the oath of office as President twice already, has been adjourned for judgment.
In the new suit, which came up before an Abuja FHC presided by Justice Adamu Bello, on Wednesday, Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission were listed as the defendants.
The court was also asked to stop Jonathan from once again running for office when his current term expires in 2015.
However, in his counter affidavit to the plaintiff’s originating summons, Jonathan averred that he took the first oath of office on May 6, 2010, following Yar’Adua’s death.
Jonathan asked the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the plaintiff had no locus standi to ask the court to stop him from running for office in 2015.
He described the plaintiff’s claims as “hypothetical and academic”, noting that he failed to disclose reasonable cause of action.
The matter was adjourned to January 23, 2013.
Okeaya-Inneh said, “The question that arises for determination is whether, having regard to the facts of this case, he (Jonathan) is in his first or second term.
“In other words, given that the Constitution prescribes a maximum of two terms of four years each totaling a maximum of eight years as President, is he eligible to run for re-election in 2015?
“In resolving this issue, the court is invited to make a determination whether the period of May 6, 2010 to May 28, 2011 wherein Jonathan occupied the office of the President, can in law be regarded as one term of office and relevance of the oath of office Jonathan took on May 6, 2010 in computing the tenure of office of Jonathan in line with sections 135 (1) and (2), 137 (1)(b), 140 (1) and (2) and 146(1) of the 1999 Constitution.”
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Pls let Jonathan run for d 2015 election, he won't win. This will be an opportunity for the opposition party to rule Nigeria. What has d Presido achieved that is making him think he is fit to contest 2015 election. Nonsense
ReplyDeleteLet Jonathan contest, only chickens will vote for him cos he is a looser!
ReplyDeleteDont deceive yourself , you cant win.
ReplyDeleteIf you think i m wrong , try to run in 2015 and you
will see how you will be defeated .
Tell me your achievement that make you deserve another 4 years .
Yeye President .
Cant you move to the street in the night and see how people are suffering .
May be poeple like Abati and the rest are deceiving you that we common Nigerian like your administration .
Na lie o .
We dont like your administration at all.
One day God will visit you for adding to our sufferness in this country through fuel subsidy removal and corruption at pick .
Things are very expensive , even some of us that are working cannot eat adequate food what about jobless people .
You will see what we are going to do for you come 2013 if you remove fuel subsidy again.
let Jonathan continue 2 deceive himself.God dat deliver d Israelite wil deliver Nigeria 4rm him
ReplyDeleteHe who the cap fits, let him him wear. At least our electoral system is gradually improving, wot stops the right peson from emerging?
ReplyDeleteHe who the cap fits, let him him wear. At least our electoral system is gradually improving, wot stops the right peson from emerging?
ReplyDeleteIs better to wish our presdo well and support him, 2015 is our nation's problem now, wait till then
ReplyDeleteGEJ has done something, atleast BOKO HARAM are not operating in the south while helping to reduce the northern population. wether we vote him or not, as far as PDP nominate him he will surely win. In GOD we trust not humanbeings. afterall the monster BH are only killing his children.
ReplyDeleteI think we should start now to pray to God for God fearing leaders irrespective of tribe or religious. Leaders who have the heart of David, Moses, Joshua,-who are selfless and ready to better the lives of their people. Infact among all the presidents we have elected so far, Yar'adua was the best.
ReplyDeleteI think we should start now to pray to God for God fearing leaders irrespective of tribe or religious. Leaders who have the heart of David, Moses, Joshua,-who are selfless and ready to better the lives of their people. Infact among all the presidents we have elected so far, Yar'adua was the best.
ReplyDeleteIs electoral system working in Nigeria?
ReplyDeletePDP just announced the result of 2015 election last week and you are still talking or which one are u talking again?
That is when PDP caber we understand that 9ja can sacrifice their lives. Forget that stupid Ruben Abati with his nonsensical talks.
I don't blame him na in bele in they make am misyan.
See it like this president is a MAD man,so he thought that he is doing well? Abati R and Leberan Maku( alias wild parrot) should stop deceiving him, oga prsudent, they leading to Hell. you must fail stupidly when you try to contest again because you'e a totally a failure to Nigerians. Pls send this prophesy to him.
ReplyDeleteMay the God who removed Abacha when he wanted to make himself life president show GEJ that He is that same UNCHANGEABLE God. Almighty God, hear the cry of your children.
ReplyDeletePls stop drinking too much "IJAW HOT DRINK" you MUST fail if try to contest again,the whole world will be against you.Mr president you failed NIGERIANS, you do not deserve that seat again in your life.bye
ReplyDeleteits too early to taklk about 2015 election bcos b/w now and 2morow is a big period that ONLY God can say what will happen.This same president again in 2015?well, God help us...... ooooooh
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing to do to redeem your image Jonathan, you are a disappointment to all Nigerians even the unborn generation.It would have been better you remained a deputy governor or better still the one without shoes as your gross misconduct is in-explicable, where are you among african leaders not to talk of world leaders. You dont even deserve to be a local goverment chairman in the first instance, where are the jobs, power, roads etc that you promised? Even when Yar adua was dead we felt the presence of a president until you were sworn in, pls think about these.
ReplyDeleteMr.presdoo.... ooh you wanna fool us again?? Never & ever, jst go back 2 ur state and contest 4 governoship, hmm jona wit ur fresh air, yeye fowl we no dey lay eggs..
ReplyDeleteGod is the Answer!
ReplyDeleteYou know you only know your plans abi and if you think through here anything can be revealing, you fail there. But remember whatever you think you are made off there are still unknowns much more than the knowns. Even the source of whatever devil supporting power recognizes the fact of the unknowns. Please go ahead, na you sabi well well of any wicked acts to continue. Please is also better for you if you do not terrorize more than limit.
ReplyDelete