Nigeria’s former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is set to be among the major contenders challenging incumbent President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, a close associate of the Bayelsa-born leader told Wizopa yesterday.
The associate, who, like Jonathan, is a member of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, revealed that the initiative to have the former President run on the PDP platform had progressed significantly, and that he had agreed to contest.
He added that Jonathan’s decision to enter the race was driven by a commitment to tackle Nigeria’s deepening poverty, hardship, and the widespread suffering affecting citizens in recent years.
According to the source, the movement to bring Jonathan back into power was being championed by prominent Nigerian leaders and elders who believed he brought stability to the country and its economy during his six years in office.
The source explained that it was in an effort to salvage the nation, revive the struggling economy, and restore Nigeria’s status that senior PDP figures and elders began “appealing to him” to take on Tinubu in 2027.
Some believe that allowing Jonathan to run for a single four-year term offers the clearest route for power to shift to the north in 2031 and stay there for eight years without a major contest from the south.
Given that Jonathan has already served one four-year term, he is constitutionally limited to another single term if he wins the 2027 election—just like Tinubu, should he secure re-election.
Meeting with northern leaders
Jonathan’s associate disclosed that the Otuoke-born former president had already held private discussions with influential figures both within and beyond the PDP, seeking their backing for his 2027 bid. The official also revealed that Jonathan was currently in the South-South region, meeting with key stakeholders to present the plan and gain their firm support.
The politician further noted that Jonathan met with former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), last weekend at his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, Niger State, to brief him on his intention to run for one term in 2027.
While the source did not reveal General IBB’s response, he expressed confidence that the proposal had been effectively presented to northern leaders.
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