Speculation over former President Goodluck Jonathan’s possible return to the 2027 presidential race has sent ripples through the Tinubu administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The political storm intensified on Monday after a lawsuit was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to bar Jonathan from contesting the 2027 election. The suit, filed by Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, urges the court to declare Jonathan ineligible under Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, arguing that he has already served two terms.
The development follows a recent declaration by Professor Jerry Gana, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who confirmed that Jonathan would return as the party’s flagbearer in 2027. Gana said Nigerians now “want back their friend, former President Goodluck Jonathan,” citing discontent with the current administration.
Presidency Reacts: Jonathan’s Record Was “Disastrous”
In a swift response, the Presidency dismissed Jonathan’s potential comeback, describing his administration as “a disaster.”
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga challenged the former president to face Bola Tinubu at the polls if he believed Nigerians still supported him, while questioning his eligibility to contest again.
“Jonathan’s regime lacked a clear economic agenda, engaged in reckless spending, and left the nation in dire straits,” Onanuga said, insisting that the former president would have to “test his chances in court.”
Lawyers Dismiss Suit as ‘Abuse of Process’
However, legal experts have described the new case as an abuse of court process.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Oba Maduabuchi (SAN), said on Arise TV that the issue had already been settled by a Yenagoa High Court, which affirmed Jonathan’s eligibility.
He explained that Section 137(3)—which limits a president to one further term—was enacted in 2018, long after Jonathan’s first oath in 2010, and could not apply retroactively.
APC, Okonkwo, Kukah React
In Lagos, the APC mocked the PDP’s plan to field Jonathan, saying he would need “an overdose of good luck” to win. Party spokesman Seye Oladejo described the idea as “a desperate move rooted in nostalgia, not competence.”
Veteran actor and lawyer Kenneth Okonkwo also advised Jonathan to steer clear of the race, warning that those who once discredited him were now in power and might “drag his name through the mud.”
Similarly, Bishop Matthew Kukah urged Jonathan to tread carefully, reminding him that his 2015 concession of defeat restored global respect for Nigeria’s democracy. Quoting General T.Y. Danjuma, Kukah cautioned, “The voice of the devil is not far from the voice of God—be wary of those pushing you for their selfish interests.”
Analyst: APC Is Nervous
Political analyst Dr. Nduka Odo of Peaceland University, Enugu, said the reactions from the APC show “genuine jitters” over Jonathan’s potential return.
“Tinubu’s camp is nervous because Jonathan remains a strong political brand. Their attacks reveal fear, not confidence,” Odo noted.
