2027 Presidency: Jonathan’s Camp Woos Peter Obi, Opposition Leaders to Form Grand Coalition Against APC

Efforts are intensifying within Nigeria’s political space as allies of former President Goodluck Jonathan push for his return to the 2027 presidential race. His supporters have begun reaching out to key aspirants, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, to step aside for Jonathan in what is being described as a bid to form a formidable coalition against President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.

With the APC already backing Tinubu for a second term and the Peoples Democratic Party zoning its ticket to the South, the 2027 presidential contest is shaping up as a Southern battle. For weeks, prominent PDP figures, especially from the North, have mounted pressure on Jonathan to enter the race. Before this, some PDP heavyweights had approached Obi, urging him to return to the party.

Obi, who left the PDP in 2022 to secure the Labour Party’s ticket, remains a central figure in opposition politics. He has aligned with broader coalition talks involving the African Democratic Congress, which boasts political heavyweights such as Rotimi Amaechi, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and Nasir el-Rufai. Responding to speculation about rejoining PDP or formally embracing ADC, Obi has maintained that he supports any movement capable of rescuing Nigeria from APC dominance.

Sources disclosed that Jonathan’s allies have initiated consultations with opposition aspirants and reportedly sought a private meeting with Obi to persuade him to step down. While Jonathan himself has not met Obi, insiders confirmed his camp is working behind the scenes to consolidate support.

Supporters argue Jonathan remains the South’s strongest candidate to challenge Tinubu, stressing that if elected he can only serve one term due to constitutional limits, thereby sustaining the North-South power rotation principle. Tinubu, if re-elected, would also be limited to four years. Obi had also promised to serve a single term if elected, though some critics dismiss such pledges as unreliable. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, now with ADC, has made a similar commitment.

However, Jonathan’s eligibility remains a legal flashpoint. Following the 2018 constitutional amendment signed into law by then President Muhammadu Buhari, Section 137 bars anyone sworn in twice as president from contesting again. Jonathan first assumed office in 2010 after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and won his own mandate in 2011 before losing to Buhari in 2015.

Legal experts remain divided. Some insist the law cannot apply retroactively since it came into effect three years after Jonathan left office, while others argue its provisions are categorical. Opponents warn that fielding Jonathan could expose PDP to litigation, with unpredictable court outcomes that might derail the party’s ambitions if he wins.

As consultations deepen, the opposition faces a defining test—whether to rally behind Jonathan as a one-term candidate or risk fragmentation that could secure APC’s grip on power beyond 2027.