Jonathan Agrees to Run for 2027 Presidency – Close Ally Confirms.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu | Democracy Newsline Newspaper
August 8, 2025
In a significant development that is set to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape, former President Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly agreed to contest the 2027 presidential election. This revelation comes from a senior member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) closely involved in ongoing consultations with the former leader.
According to the source, who spoke on strict condition of anonymity, Dr. Jonathan has formally accepted persistent calls from influential party stakeholders and revered national elders urging him to re-enter the political arena. “The decision has been made. He’s accepted to run. He wants to offer leadership once again to address the poverty, insecurity, and economic hardship currently ravaging the country,” the source told Democracy Newsline.
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Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, is understood to have agreed to a single-term presidency if elected. Political analysts note that this commitment is a strategic move designed to appease northern political leaders, many of whom view a single-term tenure as a smooth pathway for power to revert to the North in 2031 without friction from the South.
“He can only run for one term due to constitutional limits, and that’s why northern politicians are backing the idea. They see it as a transitional move,” explained the close ally.
In recent weeks, the former president has embarked on extensive consultations both within the PDP and beyond. Last weekend, he held a high-profile meeting with former military president General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) in Minna, Niger State, briefing the elder statesman on his decision to contest once again. Simultaneously, in the South-South region, Jonathan has engaged key political stakeholders through private meetings in Port Harcourt.
While details of these discussions remain closely guarded, insiders suggest that securing the South-South’s backing is unlikely to be a major obstacle for Jonathan. The PDP leadership is reportedly united in support of the move, with several party chieftains recently traveling to The Gambia, where Jonathan currently resides, to convince him to accept the call.
Confirming the developments in an interview with BBC Hausa, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi stated, “Many Nigerians have now come to recognize the value of his past leadership. People are asking for his return, and we, as a party, are listening.” Abdullahi emphasized Jonathan’s unwavering loyalty to the PDP and indicated that the party views his return as a credible strategy to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
However, Jonathan’s anticipated return has reignited constitutional debates surrounding his eligibility to contest. A 2018 amendment to Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution bars anyone who has been sworn in twice as president from seeking the office again. Critics argue this disqualifies Jonathan since he completed the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s term in 2010 before winning a full term in 2011. Others maintain that the amendment cannot be applied retroactively to his case.
Notably, a 2022 Federal High Court ruling in Yenagoa favored Jonathan’s position, affirming that the constitutional amendment should not invalidate his right to contest the presidency again.
As the 2027 election approaches, all eyes will be on Jonathan’s next moves and how the political dynamics surrounding his candidacy will unfold. For now, the PDP appears galvanized by the prospect of a former president returning to lead the charge for change in Nigeria.
