The Convener of the Coalition for Jonathan and a member of the African Democratic Congress, Dr Tom Ohikere, made the disclosure in an interview with ARISE TV, saying the former president would make his position known within one to two days.

He was responding to questions about Jonathan’s comment that seeking the presidency was “not a computer game,” which Ohikere said had been misread by some observers.

“Let me make sure that it must not be misunderstood by Nigerians. When he said it’s not a computer game, what he was trying to say was that it’s not an easy thing for somebody to just come up and say he wants to contest presidency. A lot is involved. It’s a huge process, a very comprehensive process.

“But all I want to say is that Goodluck Jonathan will be on the ballot,” he said.

When pressed on whether Jonathan had accepted the coalition’s proposal, Ohikere acknowledged he had not.

“He never accepted. But in the fullness of time, shortly, shortly, give him the next one or two days, he will make his pronouncement,” he said.

The coalition has been actively pressing Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election, framing his potential candidacy as a vehicle for national healing and unity.

During recent visits, Jonathan reportedly indicated he would consult widely before arriving at a decision.

The ADC has positioned itself as the platform for Jonathan’s potential run, as opposition forces continue to regroup ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Jonathan’s eligibility to contest, however, remains the subject of legal dispute.

A Federal High Court suit is challenging whether his return to the ballot would violate term limit provisions of the 1999 Constitution, given that he served as president from 2010 to 2015.

Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election to President Muhammadu Buhari and conceded defeat before results were fully announced.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday again adjourned indefinitely the suit filed by an African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the party’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter sine die after the plaintiff informed the court that he had applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another judge.

The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 has generated a fresh leadership crisis within the ADC following the emergence of Mark and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, in the party’s leadership structure.

At the resumed proceedings, counsel for the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, told the court that the Supreme Court had on April 30 dismissed the interlocutory appeal earlier filed by Mark against the proceedings.

He said the apex court also set aside the Court of Appeal’s order staying proceedings in the substantive suit.

“The interlocutory appeal of the second defendant has travelled to the Supreme Court. My Lord, we are glad to inform this honourable court that on the 30th day of April 2026, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on the interlocutory appeal dismissing the said appeal for lacking in merit,” he said.

The lawyer, however, disclosed that the plaintiff had written a letter dated May 4, 2026 to the Chief Judge seeking reassignment of the case to another judge.

Haruna urged Justice Nwite to await the administrative decision of the Chief Judge on the request.

“At this juncture, we must humbly pray to your Lordship, to wait for the administrative decision of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court,” Haruna said.

The request was opposed by lawyers representing the defendants, who accused the plaintiff of attempting to frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the Court of Appeal and upheld by the Supreme Court.

Counsel for the first defendant, Realwan Okpanachi, faulted the plaintiff for allegedly ambushing the defence with the transfer request.

“We have not received any communication regarding that application. My Lord, so as it is, we don’t know the form or the content of that application. Therefore, we take the approach of the plaintiff as an ambush,” he said.

“We also consider it as an attempt to frustrate the order of accelerated hearing granted by the Court of Appeal and upheld by the Supreme Court,” he added.

Counsel for the second defendant, Sulaiman Usman, described the move as “forum shopping and judge shopping.”

“So my Lord, for the plaintiffs to come back to this court, and to inform us today that they have written a private correspondence to the Honourable Chief Judge, and to hinge that to make a request for this court to await the outcome of that private correspondence, is not only unfortunate My Lord, but a dangerous trend which must not be allowed to stand,” he said.

Counsel for the fifth defendant, P.I. Oyewole, also opposed the request, describing it as “strange” and accusing the plaintiff of inviting the Chief Judge “to indulge in judicial rascality.”

Responding, Haruna maintained that the plaintiff stood by the application.

Ruling, Justice Nwite held that the court could not take any action on the letter without hearing all parties.

“Taking a decision or any action in such a letter without hearing from the defendants will amount to breach of their fundamental right in this suit,” the judge ruled.

He added that since the letter was addressed to the Chief Judge, the trial court could not make any pronouncement on it.

Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter indefinitely.

“This matter is best adjourned sine die to afford the parties properly file a Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Supreme Court in the interlocutory appeal in the suit, to serve the defendants with the letter addressed to the Honourable Chief Judge, and finally to await further or any directive from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court,” Justice Nwite said.

Gombe is seeking an order restraining Mark, Aregbesola and others from parading themselves as leaders of the ADC, arguing that their emergence violated the party’s constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.

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