A former acting chairman of the Federal Character Commission and constitutional lawyer, Kayode Oladele says speculation over a possible 2027 presidential run by former President Goodluck Jonathan is “legally foreclosed” and cannot be revived by political consultation or public pressure.
Jonathan recently told youth groups in Abuja urging him to contest that he would “consult widely” before making a decision.
“I’ve heard you loud and clear. I will consult widely before taking any decision,” he said.
But Oladele, in a statement Sunday, said eligibility for public office is determined strictly by constitutional provisions, not political sentiment.
While acknowledging Jonathan’s popularity and political appeal, he said emotional support could not override clear legal restrictions.
“At the level of politics, anyone can be encouraged to consult,” he said. “But at the level of constitutional law, eligibility is not determined by applause or political strategy.”
Oladele cited Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which bars anyone who has completed the tenure of another president and subsequently served a full elected term from being elected president more than once.
He said the amendment was designed to prevent a situation where a successor who assumes office mid-term could potentially serve an extended period beyond the intended constitutional limits.
The lawyer said Jonathan fell within that category after assuming office in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and completing the term before winning election in 2011.
“Former President Jonathan is not being singled out unfairly,” Oladele said. “He simply happens to be the most prominent example of the constitutional scenario the amendment sought to regulate.”
He rejected arguments that applying the provision to Jonathan would amount to retroactive lawmaking, saying the amendment only defines future eligibility.
“The Constitution is not punishing Jonathan for having served,” he said. “It is simply saying that going forward, he has exhausted the constitutional allowance.”
Oladele warned that any political party seeking to field Jonathan in 2027 could face legal challenges and electoral uncertainty.
“Political parties must distinguish between emotional mobilisation and constitutional viability,” he said.
He added that while Jonathan remains free to participate in national discourse and political consultation, such engagement does not translate into eligibility for elective office.
“Consultation is not candidacy, and influence is not eligibility,” he said.
Oladele said the constitutional issue is already settled, noting that while political debate may continue, the legal framework has closed the question of Jonathan’s eligibility.
