Goodluck Jonathan Silent as Northern Pressure for 2027 Intensifies
Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, mounting pressure is being placed on former President Goodluck Jonathan to step back into the political arena.
Sources told PulseNets that the strongest calls are coming from northern opposition blocs who believe Jonathan remains the only credible candidate to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Jonathan’s Political Journey
Jonathan, a former governor of Bayelsa State, rose to the highest office unexpectedly after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in May 2010. Yar’Adua, who had been elected president in April 2007 and sworn in on May 29, served until his passing in May 2010.
On May 6, 2010, Jonathan was sworn in as Nigeria’s 14th Head of State and 4th executive President. After completing Yar’Adua’s tenure, he contested and won the 2011 presidential election. However, in 2015, he was defeated by the then-new coalition under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Back in 2015, PulseNets reported how there was fierce debate about whether Jonathan could be sworn in three times as president. Some groups argued that he had already taken the oath twice, and the Arewa Youths Forum (AYF) urged him to drop his ambition.
The eligibility debate resurfaced in 2023, with legal interpretations sharply divided.
Court Ruling on Jonathan’s Eligibility
PulseNets recalls that on May 27, 2022, just hours before the PDP presidential primary, a Federal High Court in Yenagoa cleared Jonathan to contest the 2023 presidential election.
Justice Isa Hamma Dashen ruled that Jonathan’s right to contest could not be restricted by retroactive laws. The case, filed by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham, argued that Jonathan was not bound by the constitutional amendment that limits vice presidents who succeed their principals to just one additional full term.
The APC, Jonathan, and INEC were all listed as defendants in the suit marked FHC/YNG/CS/86/2022.
Despite the clearance and rumours of a N100 million APC form purchased on his behalf by a Fulani group, Jonathan did not contest in 2023. At the time, there were also claims that then-President Muhammadu Buhari wanted to “reward” him for conceding power in 2015.
Renewed Pressure for 2027
Now, with political calculations for 2027 in full swing, Jonathan once again finds himself under intense pressure. PulseNets learnt that northern powerbrokers are strongly in favour of his return because, constitutionally, he can only serve one more term. That, they argue, favours the North in the long-term balance of power.
While Jonathan has not made any official declaration, insiders told PulseNets that he is being positioned as one of the leading challengers to President Tinubu. Reports also suggest he may contest under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Divided Opinions
Political opinions remain sharply divided over his potential comeback.
Former Senator Shehu Sani told Channels Television that Jonathan should avoid running in 2027, stressing that the PDP of today is no longer the PDP that carried him to victory in 2011.
Similarly, lawyer Dele Farotimi argued that efforts to “rebrand” Jonathan were misplaced, reminding Nigerians that voters had good reasons to vote him out in 2015.
Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju also told PulseNets that Jonathan has no personal interest in contesting in 2027.
PDP’s Position
When asked by PulseNets about the possibility of Jonathan’s return, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described the matter as speculative.
However, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, a Lagos PDP chieftain and former Atiku Abubakar campaign council member, told PulseNets that Jonathan would be welcomed to contest but doubted his chances.
Pearse stated:
“He’s not just coming to PDP. Jonathan is a member of PDP. He has not been very active; nonetheless, he’s a full member of the party.
So as a member of the party, and since the party has zoned the presidency to the South, he’s more than welcome to come and run if he wants to run.
My suspicion, though, is two things. Number one, he has been away from the party. He has not been involved, he has not been helpful, he has not been encouraging. He has not been funding the party, no moral support for about five years now. Therefore, I don’t see how he could get the nomination, because where will he get the delegates, so that’s the problem.
Secondly, I don’t think it is in the best interest of the PDP to even field a person like Jonathan, because there is this question of whether or not he’s even legally qualified to run after being sworn in twice.”
Pearse further warned that Jonathan’s candidacy could drag PDP into prolonged litigation, a risk the party should avoid. Instead, he suggested that younger leaders like Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde present a stronger, safer option for the PDP in 2027.
“By 2027, Makinde will be about 59 years old. That’s the kind of leadership Nigeria needs now. He has performed extremely well in Oyo State, and if he wins the PDP ticket, I am confident he can defeat Tinubu in 2027,” Pearse told PulseNets.
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As the political chessboard shifts toward 2027, Jonathan’s name continues to dominate conversations. While some see him as a unifying candidate with the credibility to challenge Tinubu, others argue that his time has passed and that his candidacy would only create legal and political distractions for the PDP.
For now, Jonathan has remained silent. But PulseNets has learnt that until he personally speaks, the speculations and pressures will only continue to intensify.
