Influential leaders from the North have begun efforts to persuade former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2027 presidential race. This development poses a significant challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election with discontent about his leadership growing by the day.
A North East state governor and a retired General from the North West are spearheading the initiative, Sources have revealed.
They cite the 1999 Constitution, which allows a maximum of eight years of four years each for presidents, making Jonathan a great choice given that he is eligible for only one term of four years haven previously served a term as president.
Jonathan’s experience and leadership skills, as well as his goodwill across the South, make him an attractive candidate to northern leaders. His potential to garner support in 17 states is seen as a significant advantage.
Recall that in August, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed expressed his support for Jonathan. He said that he would step down his own presidential aspirations and back Jonathan “with his blood” if he decides to run.
He had said, “With regard to your call for me to present myself, I am still contemplating my chances as the leader of the opposition.
“I know there are good leaders within the PDP, especially my boss Goodluck Jonathan.
“I have always said that as long as Jonathan is around, I will not present myself for leadership of this country unless he decides not to run.
“If we can persuade him to come forward, I will support him with my blood. Out of modesty, he is still not ready. I hope you will meet him and encourage him to run.
“He will do a better job because he has the experience. We know the prices of things; we know the level of inflation.
“During Jonathan’s regime, he was inclusive, addressing issues like the Almajiri system and creating initiatives for unemployed youths.
“His leadership recruitment was exemplary. We need leaders like him—young people with energy, foresight, and drive,” he said.
According to Tribune Newspaper, the Jonathan-for-2027 project has gained momentum, with intense lobbying of critical stakeholders across the six geopolitical zones. Civil and pro-democracy bodies, as well as pressure groups, are being courted to support the initiative.
However, not everyone is convinced. A counter-group comprising governors and influential politicians is rooting for another southern politician to take the top job. Both groups are united in their opposition to Tinubu’s re-election.
It can be recalled that similar attempts were made to drag Jonathan into the contest under the All Progressives Congress (APC) banner prior to the 2023 election. However, his spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, maintained that Jonathan did not authorize the purchase of nomination forms for the contest.
“While we appreciate the overwhelming request by a cross-section of Nigerians for Dr Jonathan to make himself available for the 2023 presidential election, we wish to state that he has not in any way committed himself to this request.
“We wish to categorically state that Dr Jonathan was not aware of this bid and did not authorise it,” Eze stated.
Both PDP & APC are fraud. We want neither of them in this country again & I think Nigeria’ns should arise and make their voices known. 16 years of PDP and 9 years of APC has yielded nothing to Nigerians than suffering and pains. Corruption festering on daily basis. The rich getting Richer and the poor becoming poorer. Under Jonathan Nigeria made a lot from crude oil yet his leadership still borrowed, same under this clueless APC. Let’s try another party nah or let’s have the khaki boys.
Yes Yu are Wright,we are tiered for all old jungs wit there old idea ,we need regional goverment
You are not be honest to compare PDP to APC.
During the time of PDP, Nigerians were not pass through what we are passing through now in all ramifications.
So, is better PDP comes back to power than this ineptitude government of APC that ravaging the country now.
By 2027 general election, if God wish, I’m going to campaign for PDP and vote against APC.
This is the problem we are facing. Both of them are not good to us.see how u are talking as if u not among the citizen. everyday people are suffering.since d presidential time of Jonathan till now.no any progress to d country.since you live a fruitful time back then. That’s what is deceiving u of voting him again. Not praying and thinking of voting d rightful leader MAY ALMIGHTY GOD HELP OUR COUNTRY AND OVER THROW THE BAD LEADERS AND PEOPLE SUPPORTING THEM
You are wrong. The PDP was better than the APC. Speaking the truth.
Was Tinubu younger than Jonathan when he was declared winner last year. Where is the party with that young person?
The fact that APC is still winning in their states during LG elections and in addition to Edo state is a signal that the person who will take government from Tinubu will need a miracle. More politicians are still joining APC. So it will be difficult and I know Jonathan will not risk it because by the time they bring out can of worms in Jonathan’s administration, he will loose patapata
What we need in Nigeria now is Regionalism. The North can clamour for Jonathan, not because they believe he’s good but because he can be controlled by them unlike Tinubu.
And just because he is eligible for ONE TERM ONLY!
This is the biggest reason behind their call for him so that, having done one term (of 4 years), power would go back to the north.
Confused people, the north is the problem of Nigeria, they don’t want Obi as president but wanted Jonathan just because he has only one tenure and return power to the devil north to continue milking Nigeria dry. What can Joe achieve in 4 years, even if he does it will be reversed after he is done. They are calling for his return after pushing him out of power for frivolities. Mr Joe is wiser than them he has gone to rest since.
You are absolutely right my brother this people think there are wise
GEJ one of the Nigerian best president ever. Buhari is the most useless president of Nigeria ever.
Well at least we have tried the two parties from 1999 till today, children born in between these years will tell you the difference between APC and PDP so to my own life experience better PDP but all we need in Nigeria is change these old crookS that brought untold hardship to Nigeria’s, we need to revolutionized our political system, we need new blood into the political system, APC or PDP is just an acronym but those old crooks in this parties are Nigeria’s problem, not PDP or APC they should give way to youths
Nobody else will fits Nigeria people like president tinubu list keep on praying for prosperity togetherness
We don’t need both PDP and APC again
Nothing is working right now, we need Goodluck right now. A lot of company is being affected, they are closing down. Some are downsizing. The rate of jobless people are increasing day after day. Thank God for the creator of FB, Tiktok, IG, and all dropshiping. Companies, all this platform are reducing the agony of suffering that this presence administration is giving us back to back. To eat once a day has become a problem. 10 years ago 1 liter of petrol was 97 naira, and now 2024 1 liter of petrol is 1100 to 1500 in some state in Nigeria. This has affected us negatively. We need a system that will consider the outcome of decision making before making it.
Why must we be recycling leaders in a country with population exceeding 200 million people???