ABUJA—AGAINST the backdrop of speculations on his political ambition, President Goodluck Jonathan has declared before an Abuja High Court that he was yet to indicate or announce anywhere that he would contest for presidency in 2015. The president was responding to a suit asking the court to disqualify him from contesting the 2015 presidential election.
Jonathan who approached the court through his consortium of lawyers led by Chief Ade Okeaya-Inneh, SAN, described the suit which was filed against him by a chieftain of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Cyriacus Njoku, as frivolous and highly vexatious. He insisted that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, permits him to contest for not more than two terms of four years each. The president, therefore, asked the court to dismiss the suit against him.
From left: First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan; President Goodluck Jonathan; Rt. Rev. James Oruwari, Bishop of Ogbia Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and his wife, Martha, after a Special Church Service at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Otueke, Bayelsa State, yesterday. Photo: State House.
Meantime, presiding Justice Mudashiru Onyangi has slated April 18 to hear Jonathan’s application for extension of time within which his lawyers can file his memorandum of appearance and counter affidavit in response to the plaintiff’s suit dated March 20.
Specifically, the plaintiff had gone before the high court, praying it to bar President Jonathan from contesting presidential election in 2015, contending that he was already completing his second term in office. The plaintiff said his decision to seek judicial interpretation regarding whether the incumbent President can present himself as a valid candidate in the next general election, was sequel to a declaration he said was made by President Jonathan in the first week of March 2012, to the effect that he is still serving his first term in office.
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