Pressure Mounts on Jonathan to Join 2027 Presidential Race

Political pressure is building on former President Goodluck Jonathan to return to the ballot in 2027 with northern opposition figures leading calls for him to challenge President Bola Tinubu.

Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s 14th Head of State and fourth elected President, first assumed office in May 2010 after the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who had been elected in 2007. He completed Yar’Adua’s term before winning the 2011 election, only to lose to Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

Since then, his eligibility has sparked recurring debate. Critics once argued that Jonathan could not be sworn in three times, a controversy that resurfaced ahead of the 2023 polls. But in May 2022, a Federal High Court in Yenagoa cleared him to contest, ruling that constitutional amendments limiting the tenure of vice presidents who succeed their principals could not be applied retroactively. The case, filed by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham, confirmed Jonathan’s right to vie for the presidency again, despite earlier objections from groups such as the Arewa Youths Forum.

At the time, speculation mounted after a Fulani group reportedly purchased a ₦100 million APC nomination form on his behalf. While he ultimately sat out the 2023 election, rumours persist that former President Buhari had considered “rewarding” him for conceding power peacefully in 2015.

Now, with political permutations for 2027 already underway, Jonathan is again being courted, especially from the North, where leaders view him as a compromise candidate. Under Nigeria’s constitutional framework, Jonathan would only be eligible for one more term, a factor that appeals to those seeking a rotational balance between North and South.

However, opinion remains sharply divided. Former lawmaker Shehu Sani has urged Jonathan not to run, warning that the PDP of 2011 is no longer the same party. Lawyer Dele Farotimi argued that attempts to “rebrand” Jonathan overlook why Nigerians voted him out in 2015. Rights activist Deji Adeyanju insists Jonathan himself has little interest in contesting.

Within the PDP, the matter is still unsettled. National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba recently dismissed the speculation as premature. Yet others, like Lagos PDP chieftain Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, acknowledge Jonathan remains a full member of the party and is technically free to contest—though he cautioned against the risks. “Jonathan has not been active, does not fund the party and litigation over his eligibility could destabilize the PDP” Pearse told newsmen. He argued that governors like Seyi Makinde of Oyo State represent a younger, proven generation of leaders who could more credibly take on Tinubu in 2027.

For now, Jonathan has made no public declaration. But as the 2027 race gathers momentum, his name remains firmly in the mix—dividing opinion over whether his return would strengthen or weaken the opposition’s chances against an incumbent president.