There are indications that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is considering drafting former president Goodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race amid uncertainty over Peter Obi’s next political move.
According to reports, high-ranking PDP members have been mandated to persuade Jonathan to return with the promise of an automatic ticket.
Jerry Gana, a former minister of information, recently said that although Obi is a strong candidate, the PDP has “a better candidate”.
Gana said Obi stands a better chance of winning the presidency if he contests under the PDP, owing to the party’s widespread structure — particularly in the north.
Sources within the PDP say Jonathan’s appeal lies in the fact that he is constitutionally limited to a single term, unlike Obi, whose pledge to serve for only one term is not binding.
“Let me tell you straight away, serious efforts are being made to pull Jonathan into the race.
From the look of things, our northern colleagues believe that it is necessary to get the former president to come in and complete his second term,” a member of the party’s board of trustees told The Guardian.
The source said discussions about Jonathan’s return came up at a recent gathering of PDP leaders in The Gambia. He said the meeting also touched on party funding and strategies for the 2027 poll.
Last week, Lawal Muazu, special assistant to Bala Mohammed, Bauchi governor and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, confirmed that his principal, Senator Abdul Ningi and Jonathan attended a summit in The Gambia on democracy and governance.
One year ago, Mohammed had said he would not run for president in 2027 if Jonathan agreed to contest.