The Federal High Court in Abuja is set to deliver judgment today in a suit challenging the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.

The suit was instituted by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is seeking an order restraining Jonathan from participating in the 2027 presidential race on constitutional grounds.

At the last hearing, Jonathan’s counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the matter had already been settled by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.

According to Uche, the former president only became aware of the suit through media reports, prompting his legal team to file a notice of preliminary objection, counter-affidavit, and written address challenging the action.

The proceedings, however, suffered delays after the plaintiff and other parties in the matter, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, failed to appear in court on two separate occasions.

The court had earlier warned that it might impose costs against the plaintiff over the repeated absence.

Although Jonathan’s lawyer requested that the case be struck out for lack of diligent prosecution, Justice Peter Lifu declined the application, stating that all parties should be given one final opportunity in the interest of fair hearing.

Justice Lifu subsequently directed that fresh hearing notices be served on the plaintiff, INEC, and the Attorney-General of the Federation before adjourning the matter for judgment.

Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed how the political crisis surrounding the attempted impeachment of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa almostt led to his dismissal in 2025.

Gbajabiamila made the disclosure while addressing political stakeholders in Lagos, stating that the alleged involvement of lawmaker Desmond Elliott in the Assembly crisis nearly put his position at risk.

According to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, President Bola Tinubu eventually withdrew support for Elliott’s bid for a fourth term in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Recounting the incident, Gbajabiamila said Tinubu summoned him to his residence in Abuja during the height of the Obasa impeachment controversy.

“I almost lost my job as chief of stafff to President Tinubu last year. President Tinubu called me to his study in his Abuja house during the Obasa impeachment saga and asked me if Desmond Elliott was my boy. I replied to the president that he’s my boy,” he said.

He further explained that Tinubu informed him that intelligence reports linked Elliott to lawmakers allegedly behind the crisis in the Assembly.

“President Tinubu then told me that he heard that Desmond was part of the people causing problems in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“Immediately, I told the President that Desmond wasn’t part of them, but the president replied to me and said that from the intelligence he got, Desmond was part of them,” Gbajabiamila added.

The chief of staff said he immediately contacted Elliott after the meeting and advised him to distance himself from the group allegedly involved in the impeachment plot if he had any connection with them.

“After that meeting, I called Desmond and told him what the president said and asked him to leave the group if he was part ofit.. Three days later, the DSS DG called me and said there’s a problem.

“He said your name is beingmentioned,d that you’re the one behind the impeachmentsaga,a and that you’re supporting Desmond,” he stated.

Gbajabiamila said he denied involvement and informed the DSSdirector-generall that he had already spoken with Elliott, who denied participating in the alleged plot.

“I then called Desmond to make a public statement to deny his involvement in the impeachment saga, but till today, he hasn’t done it,” he said.