Jonathan has confirmed his readiness to challenge Tinubu in 2027 Presidential Election.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has confirmed his readiness to confront incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
A close ally of the Bayelsa-born politician told Vanguard that Jonathan has agreed to contest on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after weeks of consultations with political heavyweights across the country.
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According to the source, the move is driven by influential Nigerian leaders who believe Jonathan’s past administration stabilised the economy and reduced national tension. They are pushing for his return to address worsening poverty, economic hardship, and social distress gripping the nation.
The ally revealed that key northern political figures see Jonathan’s candidacy as a strategic path to return power to the North in 2031 without fierce regional rivalry. Since Jonathan has already served one elected term and completed the tenure of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, his potential 2027 presidency would constitutionally be limited to a single four-year term similar to Tinubu if re-elected.
Jonathan has already met with former military president General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.) in Minna, Niger State, to discuss his one-term offer. He is currently in the South-South, meeting political stakeholders to secure regional backing.
The PDP leadership is actively wooing Jonathan to lead its challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, confirmed that many Nigerians are now acknowledging Jonathan’s achievements and calling for his return. “Since he remains a PDP member, we felt it necessary to approach him. He is a compassionate leader, and Nigerians believe he can rescue the nation,” Abdullahi said.
PDP’s National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyengikuro, endorsed giving Jonathan an automatic ticket, describing him as “the party’s national leader” and “the most viable southern presidential candidate.”
Jonathan’s planned return has reignited constitutional debates about his eligibility. The 2018 constitutional amendment under Section 137(3) bars anyone sworn in twice as President from seeking another term. However, legal experts are divided.
Some senior lawyers argue the law cannot be applied retroactively since Jonathan’s first swearing-in (2010) occurred before the amendment. They cite a 2022 Federal High Court ruling in Yenagoa that cleared Jonathan to contest, noting that he only won one presidential election in his career. Others maintain that his victory in 2027 would breach the constitutional eight-year limit for any president, potentially sparking a legal battle.
Former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, declared Jonathan “eminently qualified” and “the easiest candidate to sell” due to his economic track record and his loyalty to the PDP. George dismissed fears over the two-oath controversy, arguing that Jonathan’s first swearing-in was under the Doctrine of Necessity after Yar’Adua’s death.
