Former President Goodluck Jonathan ambition to return to Nigeria’s political scene,
has caused great debate among the public.
A close ally confirmed that he has accepted calls from leaders and elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to return and rescue the country from worsening economic and social conditions.
According to the source, Jonathan’s decision is backed by many Nigerians who now feel his previous leadership was under-appreciated. They believe he offers the experience and calm leadership needed to steer Nigeria through its current challenges. The ally revealed that talks are ongoing for Jonathan to fly the PDP flag and contest against President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Jonathan has reportedly met with key northern leaders, including former military president Ibrahim Babangida. These meetings are part of wider consultations aimed at building a national coalition of support. The belief among some in the north is that Jonathan’s possible single term would create a clear path for power to shift back to the region in 2031.
Within the PDP, efforts to convince Jonathan are intensifying. Party leaders are even considering giving him an automatic ticket to contest, skipping the usual primaries. A top party official described him as the PDP’s national leader and the most suitable candidate to bring the party back to power.
However, Jonathan’s ambition has sparked legal debates across the country. A 2018 constitutional amendment bars any president who has taken the oath of office twice from contesting again. Jonathan, who first became president after the death of Umar Yar’Adua and later won the 2011 election, has already taken the oath twice.
Despite this, some legal experts argue the law cannot apply to Jonathan because the amendment came after he left office. A Federal High Court in 2022 ruled that the law cannot be used retroactively, meaning Jonathan remains eligible to contest. But not all lawyers agree, with some warning that a third term would exceed the eight-year constitutional limit.
Jonathan himself has not made a formal announcement but is consulting widely. His conditions reportedly include clarity on whether he’ll be given the party’s ticket directly and whether the party fully supports his return. For now, all eyes are on the former president as the 2027 political race begins to take shape.
