A senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has said former President Goodluck Jonathan cannot run for the 2023 presidential race.
He said Jonathan cannot contest the 2023 presidential election by virtue of Section 137 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
Falana who appeared on Channels Television programme Politics Today monitored by LEADERSHIP said the Constitution stipulated that nobody can be sworn in more than two times.
“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,” he said.
He said some of his learned colleagues feel the provision is retrospective.
“Some of my colleagues say that provision is not retrospective which was fine. The point the law is making is that if you spend a year or two or even four, having replaced somebody who died or resigned in office or impeached, can you contest twice in a way that you spent 9,11,12 years as a governor or president, the constitution says, no. You can only spend eight years maximum that is two terms. You must spend less but not more”, he added.
He said President Jonathan completed the term of late President Yar’Adua, contested and won another term.