President Jonathan Wants Court To Reject Suit Seeking To Prevent Him From Contesting In 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday, January 20, asked a Federal High Court in Kaduna to reject a suit that seeks to prevent him from contesting in 2015 presidential election.
The suit was filed by chieftains of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Richard Mneaga and Shuaibu Lilli on October 7.
The plaintiffs asked the court to prohibit the current President to portray himself as a PDP candidate in the next election.
They claimed that Jonathan had completed eight years in office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, calculated from May 29, 2007.
To recall, Jonathan was sworn in as Vice-President to President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007. After Yar’Adua died in 2010, Jonathan was sworn in as President.
However, the President, acting through his counsel, Fabian Ajoku (SAN) told the court to dismiss the petition as the plaintiffs lacked the right to bring the matter before the court.
In turn, counsel to the petitioners, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) asked the court to treat the case based on its merit.
Besides, Mneaga and Lilli ask the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prevent the PDP from accepting the nomination of Jonathan as a presidential candidate.
Justice Evelyn Anyadike put off the case to February 12 for further hearing.