By Andrew Haruna | Abuja | Nigeria News Today
Amid growing dissatisfaction with the current economic hardship in Nigeria, former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is being positioned to return to Aso Rock in 2027 as a key challenger to President Bola Tinubu, insiders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have revealed.
A close ally of the Bayelsa-born leader confirmed to Vanguard that plans to draft Jonathan into the presidential race under the PDP platform are well underway—and that the former president has given a nod to the idea.
“He is going into the race to find ways of addressing Nigeria’s rising poverty, hardship and the general suffering that had gripped the citizenry in recent years,” the source said.
PDP and Northern Elders Push for Jonathan’s Comeback
According to party insiders, Jonathan’s return is being propelled by prominent northern leaders who view him as a stabilising force and a consensus candidate. The strategy involves giving him a single four-year term, which they argue would pave the way for the North to regain the presidency in 2031 with minimal resistance.
Jonathan has reportedly held closed-door meetings with northern political stakeholders, including a recent visit to General Ibrahim Babangida in Minna. He is also said to be meeting critical South-South stakeholders to secure support from his base.
PDP Officials Back Jonathan’s Return
Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, told the BBC Hausa Service that the party’s outreach to Jonathan was based on growing public demand.
“Many Nigerians have come to realise the mistake they made in not re-electing Dr. Jonathan. They now acknowledge his achievements and are even apologising, pleading with him to return and rescue the country,” Abdullahi said.
Daniel Woyengikuro, PDP’s National Financial Secretary, went further by openly supporting an automatic ticket for Jonathan.
“You can quote me anywhere: I want him to come. An automatic ticket for him, as it stands now. If Goodluck finally accepts, the entire dynamics of 2027 politics will change,” Woyengikuro stated in an interview with Vanguard.
He added that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was another leader the PDP was considering to help bridge Nigeria’s generational and regional political gaps.
Legal Debate Over Jonathan’s Eligibility
Jonathan’s potential return has reignited legal debates about whether he is constitutionally allowed to run again. Critics point to the 2018 Fourth Alteration of the Constitution, which bars any individual who has been sworn in twice from contesting again.
However, legal experts remain divided.
A Federal High Court in Yenagoa ruled in 2022 that the law could not apply retroactively to Jonathan, as his first oath in 2010 followed the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. The court maintained that the 2018 amendment did not bar Jonathan from contesting the 2023 election, which he ultimately declined to enter.
“Section 137(3), which came into effect on June 8, 2018, cannot apply retroactively, except the legislature, in clear terms, expressly stated their intention for it to be so,” Justice Isa Hamma Dashen ruled.
Despite this ruling, constitutional lawyers remain split on the matter, with some arguing that Jonathan has exceeded the allowed number of terms, while others say he remains eligible.
What This Means for Nigeria’s 2027 Election
If Jonathan formally declares his intention to contest, it could significantly shake up the political landscape ahead of 2027. The PDP sees his return as a potential game-changer, especially as many Nigerians reflect on his previous tenure with renewed appreciation.
His candidacy would pit him directly against President Bola Tinubu, who is expected to seek re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). If successful, Jonathan would serve a single term, as constitutionally mandated.
As consultations continue, all eyes remain on the former president to see whether he will fully embrace what could be a historic political comeback.
