An Abuja Federal High Court has cleared former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.

The development comes days after a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, reportedly granted Jonathan a waiver as the party’s sole presidential candidate.

The suit was instituted by Johnmary Jideobi, who sought an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate in the 2027 presidential election.

The plaintiff had also asked the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from accepting, processing or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.

Jideobi urged the court to determine whether, having regard to Sections 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan remained eligible to seek the office of president again.

However, in his ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu held that the former president could lawfully participate in the 2027 presidential election as a contestant.

The judgment is expected to reignite political discussions ahead of the next general election, especially within the PDP and across the country’s political landscape.