A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 26 for judgment in a suit challenging the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Justice Peter Lifu fixed the date on Monday after parties in the case adopted their final written addresses.

The court is also expected to rule on an application seeking the judge’s withdrawal from the case over alleged bias, filed by the plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to Jonathan, Chris Uche (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the recusal application, describing it as frivolous and an abuse of court process. He argued that the allegations were based on a misrepresentation of earlier proceedings and asked the court to award costs against the plaintiff.

Similarly, counsel from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Maimuna Lami-Shiru, representing the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), also opposed the application. She argued that the motion lacked merit and failed to establish any valid grounds for the judge’s recusal.

She maintained that while judges can withdraw from cases where bias is established, no such justification had been presented in this instance. She also urged the court to dismiss the application with costs.

In the substantive suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, Jideobi is asking the court to stop Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, arguing that he has already exhausted the constitutional limit of two terms in office.

He further requested an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a candidate in any future presidential election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission was listed as the second defendant but was not represented in court during Monday’s proceedings.

Jonathan and the Attorney-General of the Federation have both urged the court to dismiss the suit and award substantial costs against the plaintiff.

Justice Lifu stated that rulings on all pending applications, including the recusal motion, will be delivered alongside the final judgment on May 26.