By Badagry Today Former President Goodluck Jonathan has set out conditions under which he may return to the presidential race in 2027, pote...
By Badagry Today
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has set out conditions under which he may return to the presidential race in 2027, potentially challenging incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
A close associate of the former president revealed that consultations are ongoing among top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as well as elder statesmen and political stakeholders across Nigeria, aimed at persuading Jonathan to accept the party’s ticket.
The associate, who spoke to Vanguard, said Jonathan has not dismissed the possibility of running again, but is demanding clarity on key issues—such as whether he would need to participate in the PDP presidential primaries or be handed an automatic ticket, and whether the party genuinely recognises his leadership capacity.
“He has started listening to the emissaries and is consulting with his inner circle,” the source said.
The push to bring Jonathan back is reportedly driven by concerns over Nigeria’s economic downturn and rising hardship. His supporters believe his past administration offers a credible track record and a pathway to national recovery.
Jonathan is said to have held strategic meetings behind closed doors, including with former military president General Ibrahim Babangida in Minna, Niger State. He is also currently holding consultations across the South-South region to gauge regional support.
Meanwhile, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, confirmed that many Nigerians now feel Jonathan’s leadership was underappreciated and are urging him to return. “They now acknowledge his achievements and are even apologising, pleading with him to return and rescue the country,” he said.
Within the PDP, support is building for Jonathan to receive an automatic ticket. PDP National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyengikuro, described him as the natural leader of the party and a key figure in its Southern zoning arrangement.
“If Goodluck finally accepts, the entire dynamics of 2027 politics will change,” Woyengikuro stated, insisting that Jonathan remains the party’s strongest candidate.
Still, legal concerns remain over his eligibility. The 2018 constitutional amendment bars anyone who has been sworn in twice as president from running again. However, legal experts are split on whether this applies retroactively to Jonathan, who assumed office in 2010 after the death of President Yar’Adua and then won a full term in 2011.
While some lawyers argue the law disqualifies him, others—including a 2022 Federal High Court ruling—say the amendment cannot be applied retroactively, clearing the path for Jonathan to legally contest in 2027.
For now, all eyes are on Jonathan as the political landscape braces for what could become a defining moment in the 2027 race.
Read Update: 2027: Jonathan Agrees to Contest Against Tinubu
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