Jonathan Fully Eligible to Contest 2027 Presidency – Lawyer Robert Azibaola
Story: written by Okafor Joseph September 2,2025
Robert Azibaola, lawyer and cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has dismissed claims that Jonathan could face legal hurdles if he decides to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Azibaola took aim at two senior lawyers—Festus Keyamo, SAN, and Professor Chidi Odinkalu—who had suggested that Jonathan’s possible candidacy would be dogged by legal battles.
In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday, Azibaola said Jonathan remains “100% constitutionally and legally qualified” to run, insisting that the former president has a team of experienced lawyers who can guide him.
“GEJ (PDP) has numerous, more cerebral, more experienced SANs at his disposal that give him sound, unblemished, professional legal advice only,” Azibaola wrote.
“Please note: GEJ is constitutionally qualified to contest, if he chooses to. If he decides not to, it will not be because he is disqualified.”
He accused Keyamo and Odinkalu of offering “unsolicited legal advice”, adding that their opinions hold no weight in Jonathan’s political decisions.
Background
Speculation has been rife that Jonathan may attempt a political comeback in 2027 to complete a second term. Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Calls for his return have grown louder, particularly from northern political leaders, who believe Jonathan’s eligibility is limited to a single term—an arrangement they see as a potential balancing act against President Bola Tinubu, whose administration has faced criticism from the North over alleged exclusion in governance and appointments.
While Azibaola stressed that his remarks do not confirm Jonathan’s candidacy, he emphasized that no legal barrier exists to stop the former president if he chooses to run.
