Former President Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly agreed to contest the 2027 presidential election, following intense pressure from key stakeholders within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
A senior party member revealed that Jonathan accepted the call to return in a bid to address Nigeria’s worsening economic challenges, insecurity, and poverty.
He is said to have committed to serving only one term if elected, a move seen as a strategic compromise to gain support from northern leaders who view it as a pathway for power to return to the North in 2031.
Consultations are already underway, with Jonathan reportedly meeting former military president General Ibrahim Babangida in Minna and holding private engagements with South-South political figures.
The PDP leadership is believed to be backing his return, with party chieftains reportedly visiting him in The Gambia. Speaking to BBC Hausa, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi confirmed discussions with Jonathan, describing the move as a credible strategy to challenge the APC and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
However, Jonathan’s potential comeback has reignited constitutional debates. A 2018 amendment to Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution bars individuals sworn in twice as president from running again.
Legal opinions remain divided, with some arguing the law disqualifies him due to his prior terms, while others insist the amendment cannot be applied retroactively. A 2022 Federal High Court ruling in Yenagoa sided with Jonathan, affirming his eligibility to contest.
