'President Jonathan is eligible to run in 2015' - Abuja High Court

An Abuja High Court this afternoon ruled that President Jonathan is eligible to contest in the 2015 presidential election, if he wants to. A lawyer, Mr Cyriacus Njoku had filed a suit challenging the president's eligibility to contest in 2015.

Below is what the presiding judge, Justice Oniyangi, said in his ruling... after the cut that is!

"After the death of Umar Yar'Adua, there was no election or bye election, President Jonathan was merely asked to assume the office of the President in line with Doctrine of necessity. He was not elected as the President but was made to assume office by virtue of Yar'Adua's death.

“Having exhausted the late President's tenure, he sought for his party's ticket and ran for the office of the President successfully in 2011 general election. He is therefore currently serving his first tenure of office and if he so wishes, he is eligible to further seek his party's ticket through the party's primary election and to run for office in 2015," , adding that President Jonathan’s tenure as President started in May 29, 2011, when he took the oath of office and not on May 6, 2010, when he assumed office after Umaru Yar’Adua’s demise.