President Goodluck Jonathan has told an Abuja Federal High Court that he is eligible to contest the presidential election in 2015, even if it would mean staying in office for a total of more than eight years from the date he was initially inaugurated as President on May 6, 2010, following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua.

The President made the statement through his lawyer, Mr. Ade Okeaya-Inneh, SAN, in response to a suit in which a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Mr. Henry Amadi, asked the court to declare that Jonathan no longer qualified to run for office in 2015.

Amadi had argued that in doing so, Jonathan would be spending more than the constitutionally stipulated maximum period of eight years in office.

The plaintiff said he was a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The suit is similar to another one filed by another self-declared member of the PDP, Chief Cyriacus Njoku, before an Abuja High Court.

Njoku’s suit, which asked the court to stop Jonathan from running for office in 2015 on the grounds that he was currently serving his second term in office, having taken the oath of office as President twice already, has been adjourned for judgment.

In the new suit, which came up before an Abuja FHC presided by Justice Adamu Bello, on Wednesday, Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission were listed as the defendants.

The court was also asked to stop Jonathan from once again running for office when his current term expires in 2015.

However, in his counter affidavit to the plaintiff’s originating summons, Jonathan averred that he took the first oath of office on May 6, 2010, following Yar’Adua’s death.

Jonathan asked the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the plaintiff had no locus standi to ask the court to stop him from running for office in 2015.

He described the plaintiff’s claims as “hypothetical and academic”, noting that he failed to disclose reasonable cause of action.

The matter was adjourned to January 23, 2013.

Okeaya-Inneh said, “The question that arises for determination is whether, having regard to the facts of this case, he (Jonathan) is in his first or second term.

“In other words, given that the Constitution prescribes a maximum of two terms of four years each totaling a maximum of eight years as President, is he eligible to run for re-election in 2015?

“In resolving this issue, the court is invited to make a determination whether the period of May 6, 2010 to May 28, 2011 wherein Jonathan occupied the office of the President, can in law be regarded as one term of office and relevance of the oath of office Jonathan took on May 6, 2010 in computing the tenure of office of Jonathan in line with sections 135 (1) and (2), 137 (1)(b), 140 (1) and (2) and 146(1) of the 1999 Constitution.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/why-i-can-contest-2015-election-jonathan/

president do nothing ,still dreaming,you better forget it.

All these our president self, i watched an interview last year where G.E.J personally promised that he will never contest again comes 2015, so what is he trying to tell us now. Anyway, thank God he declared his interest by himself unlike O.B.J and fashola who pretended as if they were forced by the people to contest for 2nd term.

RESERVED SPACED

GEJ has every right under the law to contest just like every Nigerian under the law of coordinated and rightful thinking has every right not to vote for him. 2015 means a lot to GEJ and Nigeria - it will show our sincerity to better governance, it will how we reward underperformance, it will show that GEJ is a "messi", it will show the strength of PDP and the opposition, it will show if Nigerians will endure another failed four years, it will show if as Nigerians we want corruption to boldly say "I don't give a damn", it will show if GEJ can win shoeless and shoeful - it will show how comatose is our resolve for change. 2015 means a lot to Nigerians who seek a positive change.

smartg :
All these our president self, i watched an interview last year where G.E.J personally promised that he will never contest again comes 2015, so what is he trying to tell us now. Anyway, thank God he declared his interest by himself unlike O.B.J and fashola who pretended as if they were forced by the people to contest for 2nd term.

I had to read your comment like 8 times and still didn't understand your gist.* rinses face with water* .the gbagauns no help matter sef!

If the president wants to contest in 2015,good for him. I wish him Goodluck!

berem: I had to read your comment like 8 times and still didn't understand your gist.* rinses face with water* .the gbagauns no help matter sef!

If the president wants to contest in 2015,good for him. I wish him Goodluck!

berem!!!

Noted.... next tori

Dreams of a confused presid0

I COMMENT my RESERVE ....

Whether The Courts asked him 2 Contest Or Not,he Won't earn My vote a second Time,he should start Thinkin of where 2 invest his stolen Money by the time he leaves Office

[size=20pt]who sed you shuldnt contest? we are wiser, we (I) wont vote for you[/size]

What will bring him back as president is not the court declaration or verdict.The populace are increasingly becoming informed and this time around,political party do not win elections but individuals.The sooner he starts to deliver the better.

He wouldn't win except he rigs.

Power is like nicotine. Did he not say he won't contest again? What's the fuss about?

And who will vote for you?

truth4meal: GEJ has every right under the law to contest just like every Nigerian under the law of coordinated and rightful thinking has every right not to vote for him. 2015 means a lot to GEJ and Nigeria - it will show our sincerity to better governance, it will how we reward underperformance, it will show that GEJ is a "messi", it will show the strength of PDP and the opposition, it will show if Nigerians will endure another failed four years, it will show if as Nigerians we want corruption to boldly say "I don't give a damn", it will show if GEJ can win shoeless and shoeful - it will show how comatose is our resolve for change. 2015 means a lot to Nigerians who seek a positive change.

ur head correct die...

....... And Nobody can stop you Sir, I will be with all the way 2015 and beyond.

talking about rigging i learnt that the 2011 presidential election was rigged. and jona tld us dat he conducted a free n fair election. now i knw why buhari was mad with the inec result.

They is hardship in the country, unemployment, bombing, insecurity and every other problem persisting. Where are we going? Nigerian, are we proud to called Nigeria, our country? We should be discussing development, not 2015 election. O Lord, Help our only country, Nigeria. Touch our leaders heart, change their thought for good, amen.

berem: I had to read your comment like 8 times and still didn't understand your gist.* rinses face with water* .the gbagauns no help matter sef!

If the president wants to contest in 2015,good for him. I wish him Goodluck!

Take it easy berem, do you have chip on your shoulder against him?

You people don't get it! GEJ is using proxies to clear legal landmines towards his 2015 ambition. These court cases are meant to ensure that no opponent takes him to court in 2014/15 when he declares his intention to run because the issues would already have been adjudicated upon. The man is obsessed with staying in power; even if he gets a 2nd term, he will still want a 3rd term- whether he performs or not is immaterial to he and his cronies.

Ukeme453: They is hardship in the country, unemployment, bombing, insecurity and every other problem persisting. Where are we going? Nigerian, are we proud to called Nigeria, our country? We should be discussing development, not 2015 election. O Lord, Help our only country, Nigeria. Touch our leaders heart, change their thought for good, amen.

you alright bruv?

If you like cut marshal yoursef there, na stil same 6feets matress me and you go sleep @ d end

for sale!!!

Gorrbachev: And who will vote for you?

His kinsmen, Ijaw will vote for him only. Useless president!

In d absence of viable opposition with widespread acceptance and political structure cutting across d whole country,u may as well admit come 2015 all this cyber war will change nothing and GEJ will b elected four more years.By d way dis guy has been in office barely 18 months and u all want him to correct d mess that has been created by decades of misrule,inept leadership and blind followership abi.under d existing laws he has d right to contest and may as well win.for now we shld identify with d positives of this govt give our own support for dis country to grow.

U have lost before d electn!

Why bother ur heads. Who said we didn't know that he was going to contest or we didn't know that he was eligible to contest. Break ur head till tomorrow, he will contest and he will win or have u not seen cases in Nigeria where someone doesn't contest an election but still wins, so why bother...

I don't give a damn cos I won't vote for u.

berem: I had to read your comment like 8 times and still didn't understand your gist.* rinses face with water* .the gbagauns no help matter sef!

If the president wants to contest in 2015,good for him. I wish him Goodluck!

see pot calling kettle black...what's d meaning of "STILL DIDN'T"