Former president Goodluck Jonathan has ruled out contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Jonathan, who left office in 2015 after losing to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was rumoured to be planning a comeback bid.
But sources told New Telegraph that Jonathan rejected the move, saying he would not contest against Obi because “that will amount to a betrayal of the south-east”.
Obi, candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, has already declared his intention to run in 2027, offering to spend only one term to complete President Bola Tinubu’s tenure, in line with the principle of rotational presidency.
“As president, he [Jonathan] said he received more votes from the south-east than his own geopolitical zone,” a source quoted in the report said.
“So the talk about Jonathan running in 2027 is not true,” the source added.
It was also reported that Jonathan turned down pressure to contest because “the motive was selfish and intended to break southern solidarity”.
“He would not be used to truncate anybody’s chances. He is an international statesman and he is satisfied playing that role,” the source added.
