Speculation about former President Goodluck Jonathan’s possible return to the presidential race in 2027 has stirred political tension within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Tinubu administration, following reports that he may run under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The controversy deepened this week after a fresh suit was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to disqualify Jonathan from contesting.
The plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi, urged the court to bar the former president from presenting himself for election or having his name accepted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing constitutional restrictions on multiple terms.
Tinubu’s Camp Hits Back
The Presidency swiftly dismissed Jonathan’s potential return, describing his tenure as “disastrous.” Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga accused Jonathan of “running the economy aground,” insisting that his eligibility would ultimately be tested “in the court of the land.”
He reminded Nigerians that Jonathan had already been sworn in twice—first in 2010 after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and again in 2011 after winning election—raising constitutional questions about a possible third term.
However, legal experts have challenged the basis of the fresh suit. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Oba Maduabuchi described the case as an “abuse of court process,” noting that a previous court ruling in Yenagoa had already upheld Jonathan’s eligibility.
He argued that Section 137(3)—which limits presidents to one additional term after completing another’s tenure—was enacted in 2018, long after Jonathan’s time in office began, and cannot be applied retroactively.
Reacting to renewed talk of Jonathan’s ambition, the Lagos State APC dismissed the PDP’s reported plan to field the former president, mocking that he would need “an overdose of good luck” to win in 2027. The party described the idea as a “nostalgic move rooted in desperation, not competence.”
Jonathan Cautioned by Allies
Nollywood actor and lawyer Kenneth Okonkwo urged Jonathan to stay out of the race, warning that those who once “nearly destroyed his name” now seek to use him again for their political interests.
Similarly, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese advised Jonathan to “listen carefully” to those urging his return, cautioning that “the voice of the devil is not far from the voice of God.” Kukah praised Jonathan’s 2015 concession as a moment of democratic sacrifice but urged him to make any future decision “guided by conscience and national interest.”
Political analysts suggest that the flurry of reactions from the ruling party reflects genuine unease within Tinubu’s camp. Communication scholar Dr. Nduka Odo noted that the APC’s aggressive posture signals fear of losing power, not confidence.
According to him, “No one sees a real political threat and keeps quiet. Jonathan and Peter Obi represent strong potential challenges, and the attacks against them are driven by fear rather than principle.”
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