Top figures within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are making concerted efforts to persuade former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election on the party’s platform.
According to a report by BBC Hausa, monitored on Tuesday, the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, confirmed that ongoing internal moves are focused on drafting Jonathan back into the political fold.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, lost his re-election bid to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and has since largely stepped away from partisan politics, dedicating his time to diplomatic and peace-building efforts across Africa.
Abdullahi explained that the calls for Jonathan’s return are fuelled by a growing public reevaluation of his tenure.
“Nigerians have realised that Jonathan was a good leader and most of the problems they blamed him for were actually not his faults,” he said.
He also commended the former president’s statesmanship during the 2015 elections, when Jonathan conceded defeat and avoided a potential political crisis.
“He exhibited a high level of statesmanship by not rigging the elections despite his powers as an incumbent. Unlike his predecessors, he toed the path of honour to avoid bloodshed,” Abdullahi added.
The PDP official revealed that Jonathan has shown positive interest in the proposal but requested time to consult widely before deciding.
“Some of the conditions he gave were to be given an automatic ticket if he accepts to run, though he also said he would make consultations before getting back to us,” Abdullahi disclosed.
The report further noted that some PDP governors accompanied Jonathan on a recent visit to The Gambia, where he attended an official function a move interpreted as part of the broader lobbying strategy to bring him back.
If Jonathan agrees, it would signal a major political comeback over a decade after he left office, potentially reshaping the 2027 electoral landscape and redefining PDP’s strategy heading into the next general election.
