The political scene ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election has taken a new twist following confirmation that former President Goodluck Jonathan will be on the ballot.
Speculations of Jonathan’s comeback were laid to rest on Sunday after former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, announced at the PDP congress in Minna, Niger State, that the former leader would fly the party’s flag in 2027.
Gana told journalists that Nigerians, having compared subsequent administrations since Jonathan left office in 2015, are now calling for his return.
“In 2015, Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of Nigerians. After him, another president ruled for eight years, and another has ruled for two. Nigerians have seen the difference and want him back. I can confirm that Jonathan will contest in 2027 as PDP candidate,” Gana declared.
The announcement has sparked nationwide debate, with many recalling Jonathan’s peaceful concession of defeat in 2015 to then-opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari — a move that earned him both local and international respect. Analysts say his re-entry could reshape the dynamics of the next election.
But the Tinubu Presidency swiftly responded. In a statement on Monday, Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Jonathan is free to contest but reminded Nigerians of what he described as the ex-president’s poor performance in office.
“Jonathan reserves the right to run, but Nigerians will remember his dismal record. His regime lacked a clear economic agenda, engaged in reckless spending, and left the economy in dire straits,” Onanuga stated.
He further argued that Jonathan was being pushed into the race by politicians seeking to advance personal, ethnic, and religious interests, warning that “they will abandon him midstream, just as they did in 2015.”
Onanuga also raised the constitutional question of Jonathan’s eligibility, pointing to Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which limits how many times a person can be sworn in as president. Legal experts like Prof. Chidi Odinkalu have similarly argued that Jonathan’s 2027 bid could collapse in court.
Despite these concerns, Onanuga said President Bola Tinubu would “wholeheartedly welcome” Jonathan into the race, but expressed confidence that Nigerians “who will not easily forget the recent past will not allow him to return and ruin the economy again.”
