Pressure Mounts on Jonathan to Join 2027 Presidential Race

Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, former President Goodluck Jonathan is reportedly under increasing pressure to declare his interest in the race.

The push, largely from northern opposition figures, comes as political alignments begin to take shape ahead of the contest against incumbent President Bola Tinubu.

Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president for about five years, first assumed office in May 2010 following the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

After completing Yar’Adua’s tenure, he contested and won the 2011 election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but was defeated in 2015 by the All Progressives Congress, APC, led coalition.

At the time, there was controversy over whether he could be sworn in three times, given that he had completed Yar’Adua’s tenure and subsequently served a full term. Some northern groups, including the Arewa Youths Forum, opposed his 2015 candidacy on those grounds.

The debate resurfaced in 2023 when speculation mounted that Jonathan might run again. However, a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in a judgment delivered by Justice Isa Hamma Dashen on May 27, 2022, ruled that Jonathan remained eligible to contest.

The court held that the constitutional amendment barring vice-presidents who succeed their principals from serving more than one term could not be applied retroactively in Jonathan’s case.

The ruling came just hours before the PDP presidential primary amid rumours that Jonathan might contest under the APC, following the reported purchase of a N100 million nomination form by a Fulani group on his behalf. He ultimately stayed out of the 2023 race.

With discussions about 2027 already in motion, Jonathan is again seen as a possible candidate, especially with the argument that his presidency would align with the North-South rotation agreement, since he would be limited to one term.

However, his potential return has drawn mixed reactions.

Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Shehu Sani, cautioned Jonathan against running, arguing that the PDP is no longer the same party under which he rose to power.

Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, similarly warned that attempts to “rebrand” Jonathan overlooked the reasons Nigerians voted him out in 2015.

On his part, lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju dismissed speculations, insisting that Jonathan has no interest in contesting in 2027.

Speaking to Newsmen, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said talk of Jonathan’s candidacy remained speculative.

But Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, a Lagos PDP chieftain and former national chairmanship aspirant, maintained that Jonathan’s candidacy could be problematic for the party.

“Jonathan is still a member of the PDP and can contest if he wishes, especially since the presidency has been zoned to the South,” Pearse said.

“However, he has not been active, has not supported or funded the party for years, and that makes it unlikely he can secure the delegates needed to win the primaries.”

Pearse further argued that Jonathan’s eligibility could again become a subject of litigation, which the PDP may not want to risk.

He instead backed Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, describing him as a younger and more viable candidate with a proven track record.

As things stand, Jonathan has not publicly declared his intentions for 2027, leaving his supporters and opponents alike waiting for clarity on whether he will re-enter the presidential race.