Former President Goodluck Jonathan has agreed to contest the 2027 presidential election, Dockaysworld reports.
A trusted ally of the former leader confirmed the decision, revealing that Jonathan has finally yielded to mounting pressure from party stakeholders, political elders, and influential voices across the country who have been urging his return to power.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s President from 2010 to 2015, reportedly accepted the proposal after extensive consultations with key figures within and outside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Vanguard Newspaper revealed.
According to sources familiar with the developments, Jonathan has committed to a one-term presidency if elected, a move believed to be designed to calm political tensions and create a smoother path for the North to reclaim the presidency in 2031. The former president’s camp considers this a strategic compromise aimed at uniting diverse political interests under a common objective of stabilising the nation.
Already, the former president has begun holding private meetings and consultations. Last weekend, he was said to have met with former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), in Minna, Niger State, where he reportedly briefed the elder statesman on his decision and sought his support.
Similar engagements are ongoing in the South-South, including private talks in Port Harcourt, where Jonathan is believed to be securing the backing of key stakeholders from his home region. Party insiders insist that garnering support in the South will not be a challenge, given his strong grassroots presence and regional popularity.
Within the PDP, the momentum for Jonathan’s return is gaining traction. Several top officials are said to have travelled recently to The Gambia to meet with him and finalise discussions.
Confirming the development, the PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, said many Nigerians now regret not re-electing Jonathan in 2015 and are pleading for his return. Abdullahi noted that the former president remains a PDP member and that the party has no reason not to respond to popular calls for his candidacy.
He described Jonathan as a compassionate leader whose return is seen as a credible path to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Despite the growing support, Jonathan’s return bid has revived constitutional debates over his eligibility. A 2018 constitutional amendment, Section 137(3), bars any person who has been sworn in twice as president from seeking the office again.
While some legal experts argue that Jonathan is disqualified, others contend that the amendment cannot be applied retroactively, since Jonathan’s initial swearing-in predated the law.
It can be recalled that in 2022, a Federal High Court in Yenagoa ruled in Jonathan’s favour, stating that the constitutional change does not affect his right to contest.
