A close ally of former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that the former leader is being considered as a top contender to face President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The unnamed source, who spoke to Vanguard newspaper, said a coalition of Nigerian leaders and elders is driving the project to bring Jonathan back into the presidential race.
According to the source, these influential figures believe Jonathan’s administration successfully stabilized the country and its economy, and they see his return as a pathway to “rescue the country and restore the dwindling economy.”
This group, reportedly comprised of key PDP leaders and elders, has been “pleading with him” to consider a run.
The political calculus behind this move is multifaceted. Some proponents believe that a single, four-year term for Jonathan would create a clear path for power to shift to the North in 2031, where it could remain for eight years without a strong challenge from the South.
Under Nigeria’s constitution, a president who has already served one full term is limited to a single additional term of four years.
This constitutional provision makes Jonathan’s potential candidacy a strategic consideration for those looking to influence the country’s future political landscape.
