The Young Nigerian Rights Organization (YNRO) has urged the Federal High Court to throw out what it described as a “politically motivated and baseless” suit seeking to bar former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement released in Abuja, YNRO’s National President, Comrade Victor Ojei, said the case represents “a growing abuse of judicial process and an attempt to weaponize the courts for political persecution.”
Ojei argued that Jonathan’s first assumption of office in 2010 was a constitutional succession following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, not an elected term. “That transition was not the product of an election but of constitutional necessity. Counting it as a full term is a distortion of both fact and law,” he said.
He maintained that the suit is fundamentally defective, as the plaintiff lacks locus standi—the legal right to institute the case. “The individual behind the suit neither represents any institution of state nor has suffered any injury to justify this action. It is a speculative and politically driven petition,” Ojei added.
The group cautioned against setting a precedent that undermines citizens’ political rights. “To attempt to disqualify a person from an election he hasn’t even declared for is unconstitutional and dangerous to democratic participation,” the statement noted.
YNRO also urged the judiciary to remain impartial and resist political manipulation. “The courts must not become a playground for political adventurers. We trust that justice will prevail and this suit will be dismissed promptly,” it said.
Reaffirming its respect for the rule of law, the organization described Jonathan as “a true democrat and peace ambassador who once chose peace over power.” Ojei added: “To deny such a man his political rights is not just unfair to him—it is unfair to Nigeria’s democratic history and its future.”
The Young Nigerian Rights Organization restated its commitment to defending constitutional rights and promoting civic inclusion for all Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation.
Civil Society Group Condemns “Frivolous” Suit Against Jonathan, Calls for Dismissal
