Thousands rally in Abuja, ask Jonathan to contest 2027 presidency

Thousands of youths under the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday rallied in Abuja, urging former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.

The demonstrators gathered at Jonathan’s residence around Taraba Close near Tanganyika Street and spread through Farmers Market to IBB Way in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The rally disrupted early morning traffic as participants chanted slogans, danced to music and displayed placards appealing to the former president to return to active politics.

Some of the placards read: “GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!” “GEJ, Nigerian youths break the medicine wey dem do you.” “GEJ, if you no run, we quench.”

The group was led by Mr. Tom Ohikere, national president of the coalition and former commissioner for information in Kogi State.

Ohikere said: “Everywhere that we have visited in the course of our nationwide consultation over a period of six months, the clamour for his return to power to rescue our country has been loud and unmistakable.”

Jonathan reportedly arrived at the residence around 1pm after the demonstrators had left. Sources close to the former president said he and his aides had no prior knowledge of the rally.

The gathering was peaceful, with participants from different states chanting slogans and displaying placards appealing to the former president to heed what they described as a national call.

As of the time of filing this report, Jonathan had not issued any official statement on the rally. His spokesperson has also not publicly responded to the appeal.

The demonstration adds to growing calls from groups within Nigeria and the diaspora urging Jonathan to return to active politics.

Several organisations have made similar appeals over the past year. The groups include the Goodluck Nigeria Movement, the Nigeria Rescue Mission Organisation, the New Nigeria Integrity Movement (Middle Belt Zone) and the diaspora-based Goodluckans Movement 2027.