A close political associate of Goodluck Jonathan has confirmed that the former President would be among key contenders expected to challenge President Bola Tinubu at the 2027 elections.
The source, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), same as Jonathan, revealed to Vanguard that plans to draft the ex-president into the race have reached an advanced stage.
According to him, Jonathan has accepted the proposal and is motivated by a desire to tackle the worsening poverty, economic hardship, and suffering facing Nigerians.
“The project to bring back Jonathan to reposition Nigeria was being driven by key Nigerian leaders and elders, who believed the former president stabilised the country and its economy within the six years of his administration.”
According to the ally, the move is part of the effort by PDP stakeholders and respected statesmen to rescue the nation from its current trajectory and restore economic confidence.
He said the campaign to persuade Jonathan to re-contest began months ago and is now yielding results.
“It was in a bid to rescue the country and restore the dwindling economy and Nigeria to its pride of place that key PDP leaders and elders started ‘pleading with him’ to consider running against Tinubu in 2027.”
Some political strategists backing Jonathan’s return believe offering him a constitutionally permitted single term of four years could pave the way for power to rotate back to the North by 2031 without much resistance from the South.
Vanguard reports that as a former president who has already served one term, Jonathan is eligible to run for only one more four-year term if elected in 2027, just like President Tinubu, should he seek and secure a second term.
“Jonathan’s ally said the Otuoke-born politician had already met behind the scene with some top leaders within and outside the PDP to consult them and seek their support for the 2027 presidential race.”
The source disclosed that Jonathan recently met with former military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), at his Minna residence to formally inform him of his ambition and seek his counsel.
“According to the politician, Jonathan met with former Nigerian military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, retd., last weekend in his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, Niger State, and briefed him on his desire to run for one term in 2027.”
While the outcome of the meeting with Babangida remains undisclosed, Jonathan’s associate expressed confidence that the North had been effectively engaged on the matter.
“Although the source did not say what General IBB’s response to Jonathan was, he, however, expressed optimism that the idea had been properly sold to the north.”
It was further gathered that the former president has commenced grassroots mobilization across the South-South region, engaging political heavyweights and influential stakeholders.
“The official also disclosed that Jonathan was currently in the South-South consulting and meeting with critical stakeholders, with a view to selling the project to them and soliciting their unflinching support.”
Though details of meetings held in Port Harcourt on Tuesday and Wednesday remain unclear, Jonathan’s backers are confident of his popularity and support within the region.
“It was, however, not clear at press time who the GEJ team was meeting with in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Tuesday and yesterday but it is believed that his support base in the region would not be a problem to him.”