PDP Moves to Draft Jonathan for 2027 Presidency
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is intensifying efforts to bring former President Goodluck Jonathan back into the presidential race, with high-ranking party members and influential political figures lobbying him to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Multiple sources within the party told Vanguard that consultations with Jonathan have reached an advanced stage, with the former president reportedly signalling interest in returning to Aso Rock for a single four-year term. According to his associates, Jonathan’s renewed political mission is anchored on tackling Nigeria’s worsening poverty, economic decline, and widespread hardship.
Party insiders revealed that the campaign to bring back Jonathan is being championed by respected political elders who believe his previous six-year tenure brought stability to both governance and the economy. They see his candidacy as a strategic move to ‘rescue’ the country while paving the way for political power to shift back to the North by 2031 without fierce regional contest.
Given that Jonathan has already completed a term from 2010 to 2015, constitutional provisions mean he could serve only one more four-year term if elected — a scenario some PDP strategists consider politically advantageous.
Private Meetings with Political Heavyweights
Jonathan is said to have already met with key northern leaders, including former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), at his Minna residence last weekend to discuss his plans. Sources disclosed that the former president has also embarked on consultations in the South-South, where his political support remains strong.
PDP Leaders Rally Support
The party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, confirmed that Jonathan’s name is seriously on the table, noting that growing public nostalgia for his administration is driving the push.
“Many Nigerians have admitted they underappreciated his achievements while in office. They now want him back to restore stability,” Abdullahi said, adding that the former president remains a PDP member, making the approach straightforward.
Daniel Woyengikuro, PDP’s National Financial Secretary, went further, openly advocating for Jonathan to receive the party’s automatic ticket. “If Goodluck Jonathan accepts, the dynamics of the 2027 election will change entirely. He is our national leader and one of the best options for a southern presidency,” he said.
Consultations Beyond Nigeria
Insiders revealed that some PDP stakeholders recently travelled to The Gambia to meet Jonathan, pressing him to accept the party’s nomination. Reports indicate that Jonathan has begun setting conditions for his candidacy, including clarity on whether he would go through primaries or be handed the ticket outright.
Legal Debate Over Eligibility
Jonathan’s potential return has reignited a constitutional debate stemming from a 2018 amendment that bars anyone sworn in twice from contesting again. Sections 137(3) and 182(3) of the constitution restrict presidents and governors to one elected term if they had earlier completed another’s tenure.
Legal opinions remain divided.
Some lawyers argue the provisions cannot be applied retroactively to Jonathan since they came into effect in June 2018, years after he left office. A 2022 Federal High Court ruling in Yenagoa upheld this view, affirming his eligibility to contest. Others, however, warn that a victory in 2027 could breach the constitutional limit of eight years in office.
Support from PDP Elders
Former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George, dismissed the legal concerns, stressing that Jonathan’s ascension in 2010 was under the “Doctrine of Necessity” following President Umaru Yar’Adua’s death. “He is the easiest to sell to Nigerians because of his track record, especially on the economy,” George said.
As the PDP steps up its courtship, political watchers believe Jonathan’s decision in the coming months could reshape the entire 2027 presidential race — setting up a high-stakes face-off with President Tinubu.
