Falana said the constitution does not allow Jonathan to contest for presidency in 2023.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Lagos human rights lawyer and senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has poured cold water on the touted ambition of former President, Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2023 presidency, saying he lacks the constitutional empowerment to do so.
Falana specifically argued that former President Jonathan cannot contest the 2023 presidential election by virtue of Section 137 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
Speculations have been rife on the former President defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), through which he had been deputy governor, governor, vice president, acting president and ultimately, president to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Jonathan was elected President of Nigeria in the 2011 election but lost to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
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Since Jonathan’s rumoured interest for the job, Nigerians are divided on his eligibility for the aspiration as well as the morals in even contemplating so. One of his former media aides, Reuben Abati, was in fact, quoted to have confirmed that he has swallowed the bait to step out for the office. The confirmation has attracted reactions from many Nigerians and organisations.
The Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo have warned the former President against his interest in the 2023 presidency.
Ohanaeze’s spokesman, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia in an interview with Lagos medium, Punch urged Jonathan to run away from those plotting to bring him back to power, saying they are his enemies.
He added that it is only in Nigeria and in the third world like Africa that such an idea could be contemplated in the first place.
On his part, Pa Adebanjo slammed Jonathan for considering the 2023 presidency. He said, “The unfortunate thing is that President Goodluck Jonathan allowed himself to be disgraced by mentioning the fact that, ‘I’m considering whether to be President’; for what? Who are you consulting?”
Elsewhere, support groups loyal to some presidential aspirants like Bola Tinubu and Yemi Osinbajo have rejected the speculation and plot to bring Jonathan back to power through the platform of the ruling APC.
Arguing in similar vein, Falana, in a statement, said: “It has been confirmed that former President Goodluck Jonathan has decided to join the All Progressives Congress, APC, to contest the 2023 presidential election.
“However, the former President is disqualified from contesting the said election by 137 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended which provides as follows: ‘A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.’
