Civil society organisations in Delta State have condemned the lawsuit against Jonathan, describing it as politically motivated and an abuse of judicial process.
The Director-General of the Young Nigerian Rights Organisation, Mr. Victor Ojei, called for the immediate dismissal of the suit, which he described as “a politically motivated distraction and a gross abuse of judicial process.”
In a statement made available to news men on Tuesday in Asaba, Ojei expressed concern over what he called “a growing pattern of weaponising the courts for political persecution.”
He said, “The suit, which seeks to bar Dr. Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, is not only legally baseless but also morally wrong and contrary to the spirit of democracy.
“Dr. Jonathan’s assumption of office in 2010 followed the tragic passing of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua — a constitutional transition rather than an election. His initial tenure was incomplete and constitutionally distinct from a full presidential term.
“The framers of our Constitution did not intend for such a lawful succession to be counted as an ‘elected term.’ Any argument to the contrary is a distortion of both fact and law.”
Ojei further argued that the case suffers from a fundamental defect of locus standi, as the plaintiff lacks the legal standing to bring such an action.
“The individual who filed the suit neither represents any institution of state nor has suffered any direct injury that warrants judicial intervention. It is a speculative petition driven by political interests rather than constitutional principles,” he added.
The organisation stressed that democracy thrives on inclusion and the right of every citizen to participate, not on preemptive exclusion based on personal or partisan motives.
“To attempt to silence a citizen’s political right before he has even declared interest in the race is not only unconstitutional but a dangerous precedent for our democracy,” the statement added.
The group urged the judiciary to safeguard its integrity by resisting political manipulation, stressing that the courts are “the last hope of the common man, not a playground for political adventurers.”
It, therefore, called on the Federal High Court to dismiss the case without hesitation.
