Goodluck Jonathan’s rumoured 2027 presidential ambition has unsettlesd Tinubu camp.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the political atmosphere in Abuja is heating up as speculations grow that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan may be plotting a return to Aso Rock in the 2027 presidential election.
Sources within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have hinted that Jonathan is under intense pressure from influential figures across the South-South and Middle Belt regions to join the race, a development that has reportedly unsettled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s camp.
ALSO: Enugu Governor Peter Mbah Reportedly Joins APC Amid Deepening PDP Crisis
According to insiders, the speculation gained traction after former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, publicly declared that Jonathan would contest under the PDP, saying Nigerians now “miss the stability and relative peace” of his administration.
“Nigerians have seen the difference. They are calling for Jonathan’s return, and I can confirm he will contest in 2027 under the PDP,” Gana was quoted as saying at a recent PDP gathering in Minna, Niger State.
The statement has sparked panic within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with top aides in the Presidency reportedly holding discreet meetings to assess the political implications of Jonathan’s possible comeback.
A senior aide to President Tinubu, who spoke under anonymity, described the development as “a distraction and a calculated attempt to test the waters ahead of 2027.”
Meanwhile, the Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Tuesday, dismissed Jonathan’s alleged ambition, labeling his administration as “wasteful and rudderless.”
“Jonathan’s era remains one of the worst in Nigeria’s democratic history. If he wants to run again, let him test his popularity — Nigerians have not forgotten the hardship and corruption under his watch,” Onanuga said.
However, political analysts believe the growing tension reflects Tinubu’s fear of a united opposition, particularly if the PDP rallies around a familiar figure like Jonathan, who still commands loyalty in key regions.
Dr. Nduka Odo, a political science lecturer at Peaceland University, Enugu, said:
“Jonathan’s name alone is enough to cause anxiety in the Tinubu camp. He has a reputation for humility and a cross-regional appeal that could realign political loyalties before 2027.”
Adding to the intrigue, a recent court suit filed in Abuja is seeking to bar Jonathan from contesting again on constitutional grounds, citing Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution. Legal experts, however, argue that the section cannot apply retroactively since Jonathan left office before the clause was enacted.
While Jonathan himself has remained silent, associates close to him insist he is “consulting widely” and has not ruled out any option.
As one PDP insider put it:
“The former president is watching the field. He knows the people still love him, and he’s weighing whether the time is right for a comeback.”
For now, Jonathan’s silence speaks volumes, and the Tinubu camp’s unease only fuels speculation that the former president may indeed be preparing for one of Nigeria’s biggest political comebacks.
