Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
Close allies confirm ex-President’s readiness to re-enter the race, citing national rescue mission and overwhelming public support
Nigeria’s former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is poised to contest the 2027 presidential election, with a close ally confirming that the Bayelsa-born leader has accepted calls to re-enter the political arena. The move, which is gathering momentum within the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP), is being described as a strategic effort to challenge incumbent President Bola Tinubu.
A close associate of the former president, who is also a PDP member, revealed that Jonathan is being positioned as a unifying candidate to address Nigeria’s deepening poverty, economic woes, and national discontent. According to the source, prominent Nigerian leaders and party elders believe Jonathan’s previous administration brought stability and economic progress and are n, ow rallying behind him to rescue the nation.
Jonathan is reportedly engaging in consultations across political circles, having already met with northern leaders, including a private session with former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, at his Minna residence. He is also currently in the South-South region, holding strategic meetings with critical stakeholders to garner full regional support.
The PDP is said to be heavily invested in this project, with top-ranking party officials and governors involved in wooing Jonathan back to active politics. Sources confirmed that some senior party stakeholders even travelled to The Gambia recently to persuade him to accept the PDP’s presidential ticket.
Jonathan has reportedly begun setting conditions for his return, including clarity on whether he would face a primary contest or receive the ticket unopposed, and assurances that his leadership would be fully embraced by the party. While discussions continue, many in the PDP hierarchy are already pushing for an automatic ticket for the former president, arguing that his candidacy could fundamentally shift the dynamics of the 2027 race.
The PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the party is merely responding to overwhelming calls from Nigerians who have come to appreciate Jonathan’s past achievements. He noted that many now admit they underestimated his leadership and are urging him to return and rescue the country.
National Financial Secretary of the PDP, Daniel Woyengikuro, described Jonathan as the party’s de facto national leader and a key figure in its current zoning strategy, especially in efforts to retain the presidency in the South. He strongly backed the idea of granting Jonathan an automatic ticket, stressing that the former president remains the most viable option to lead both the party and the country out of its current state.
Woyengikuro also highlighted Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as another credible southern candidate, but emphasized Jonathan’s broader national appeal and proven track record.
However, Jonathan’s eligibility has stirred debate within legal and political circles. The controversy stems from the Fourth Alteration Act to the 1999 Constitution, which bars any person sworn in to complete another’s term from being elected for more than one term. The provision, signed into law in 2018, aims to prevent any individual from occupying the presidency or governorship for more than eight years.
Legal opinions are divided. While some lawyers argue the law disqualifies Jonathan, others insist the amendment cannot be applied retroactively. In 2022, a Federal High Court in Yenagoa ruled in Jonathan’s favour, affirming that the constitutional change could not disqualify him since it came into effect after his tenure.
Senior lawyers, including Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) and Elekwachi Nnabuihe, argue that,t the amendment does not apply to Jonathan, noting that he was only elected once, in 2011, and that the oath he took in 2010 following President Umaru Yar’Adua’s death was a constitutional necessity, not the result of an election.
They maintain that since the law does not operate retroactively and Jonathan has only been elected once, he remains eligible to contest again.
However, some dissenting voices, such as human rights lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, warn that if Jonathan wins in 2027, it could pose a constitutional challenge by potentially extending his time in office beyond the eight-year limit set by the Supreme Court in the Marwa v. Nyako case. Jideobi argued that such a scenario would raise legal concerns regarding term limits and constitutional interpretation.
On the political front, PDP elder statesman Chief Olabode George dismissed concerns about Jonathan’s eligibility, stating that the former president never left the party and remains its most marketable candidate. He described Jonathan as “eminently qualified” and “the easiest to sell” due to the economic successes of his previous administration.
Jonathan’s political re-entry, if finalized, is expected to shake up Nigeria’s political landscape and set the stage for a dramatic showdown in 2027.
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