2027: Goodluck Jonathan Reportedly Set for Presidential Comeback Amid PDP Pressure
In a political development that could dramatically reshape Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections, close allies of former President Goodluck Jonathan have revealed that he is seriously considering a return to the presidential race.
Multiple top-level sources within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) confirmed that the movement to draft Jonathan back into active politics has gained significant momentum in recent weeks. The former president, who led the country from 2010 to 2015, is reportedly open to the idea of contesting again this time with a renewed focus on economic recovery, national unity, and addressing hardship.
According to insiders familiar with the discussions, Jonathan’s possible re-entry is being championed by powerful elder statesmen and key party figures who argue that his previous administration ensured relative macroeconomic stability and fostered democratic values and achievements that many Nigerians now look back on more favorably.
Jonathan, a native of Otuoke in Bayelsa State, has reportedly begun holding high-level consultations with influential political players across the country. Over the weekend, he visited former military president General Ibrahim Babangida (retd) at his Minna residence in Niger State. Although details of their meeting remain confidential, insiders described it as “strategic and encouraging.”
Reports gathered by Naijaonpoint Media also indicate that the former president has embarked on a wider regional tour, beginning with consultations among stakeholders in the South-South zone, a stronghold of the PDP, as he gauges support for what many within the party are calling a “national rescue mission.”
Party sources indicate that PDP governors, National Working Committee (NWC) members, and grassroots leaders are increasingly unified in their effort to draft Jonathan back into the race, viewing him as a consensus candidate capable of mounting a serious challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu.
Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, confirmed the growing support:
“Many Nigerians now acknowledge the mistake of not re-electing Dr. Jonathan in 2015. His achievements are being re-evaluated, and the call for his return has become louder. People are pleading with him to rescue the country from its current economic and security challenges.”
While discussions are ongoing, there is debate within the party about whether Jonathan would have to contest the PDP primaries or be offered the party’s ticket unopposed. The former president is said to be seeking assurances of genuine support from the PDP hierarchy before making a formal declaration.
Daniel Woyengikuro, PDP’s National Financial Secretary, described Jonathan as “irreplaceable” in today’s political climate.
“He is not just a former president; he is still the most influential political leader in the South. If we’re being honest, apart from Obasanjo, the next viable southern candidate is Jonathan. He remains our best bet,” Woyengikuro stated.
He also advocated for an automatic presidential ticket:
“You can quote me, I want him to run. He deserves an automatic ticket. Right now, both the party and the country need him more than ever.”
However, Jonathan’s eligibility for re-election has sparked constitutional debate. A 2018 amendment to the Nigerian Constitution (Section 137(3)) bars anyone who has been sworn in twice as president from seeking re-election. Nonetheless, legal experts argue the amendment is not retroactive and does not apply to Jonathan, whose first oath of office in 2010 followed the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
A Federal High Court ruling in Yenagoa in 2022 backed this interpretation, affirming Jonathan’s eligibility to contest future presidential elections.
Veteran PDP chieftain Chief Bode George also lent his support:
“He never left the party, and he remains our most marketable candidate. His economic record speaks for itself. He is more than qualified, and Nigerians are beginning to see that clearly.”
With the political atmosphere heating up and Jonathan’s name back in national discourse, analysts believe his return could significantly alter power dynamics, reshape alliances, and influence the tone of the 2027 general elections.