2023: Former President Jonathan Can’t Stand Election – Falana 

As calls for former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2023 presidential election continues, a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has said the former President could not contest the poll in line with section 137 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,  (as amended).

There have been speculations that the former President may defect from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and join the presidential race. There have also been calls from several groups for the former president to join the race.

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.’

Jonathan was elected President on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2011 election, and in 2015, he lost to Muhammadu Buhari.