The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed support for the calls urging former President Goodluck Jonathan to enter the 2027 presidential race.
In recent weeks, rumors have been circulating that northern elites and politicians are dissatisfied with President Bola Tinubu’s administration and are quietly advocating for a change in government in the next election.
Four days ago, Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala Mohammed added his voice to these calls, pledging to abandon his own presidential ambitions if Jonathan agrees to run.
He made this declaration at an event organized by the Save Africa Initiative, a non-governmental organization in Abuja.
According to Mohammed, Jonathan has the necessary experience to revive the economy and would perform well if given a second mandate to lead the country.
In an exclusive interview, PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi affirmed that the party aligns with the views of the Bauchi governor and northern elites.
“We fully support the Bauchi State governor’s position. Don’t forget, he was a significant figure in Jonathan’s administration as a minister.
As the chairman of the 13 PDP governors, a two-term minister, former senator, and a two-term governor now completing his second term, he understands the country’s past, its present challenges, and where we hope to take it in the future.
“If we’re discussing a southern presidency in 2027, we should consider someone who has already served one term and could offer Nigerians hope and prosperity, unlike the current administration.
Additionally, if we want a nationalist who wouldn’t manipulate election results to stay in power, someone who graciously conceded defeat before the counting was even completed, it has to be Jonathan.
“You’ll recall that he called the winner, congratulated him, and initiated the transition process. This is the kind of leader with a listening ear that we believe can address the current situation. No Nigerian president has faced as much criticism as Goodluck Jonathan. We endured all sorts of insults, but today, he is the one everyone is seeking, even in broad daylight.”
When asked whether this decision might conflict with the interests of PDP’s former presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who has been labeled a serial contender by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi dismissed the notion.
He stated that Atiku cannot dictate the party’s choice for 2027 despite being a key figure within the PDP.
“It’s not Atiku’s place to decide for the PDP. We are a national political party, one that governed this country for 16 years. We cannot allow one person to determine the party’s direction. While we respect him and acknowledge his efforts, there comes a time when one must step aside and support someone else. This is how things work. If we tried with Atiku in 2019 and 2023, there’s nothing wrong with trying someone else in 2027, especially if that person seems more favored by the odds.
“The challenges the country faces today transcend party lines. We need a nationalist with the stature of Goodluck Jonathan to save the situation. During his six-and-a-half-year presidency, he managed to stabilize the foreign exchange rate to a reasonable extent and kept inflation in single digits. This is something we will continue to reference,” he said.
However, the ruling APC disagreed, stating that it is too early for any party to be discussing the 2027 election.
In an exclusive phone interview, APC National Director of Publicity Bala Ibrahim mocked the PDP, suggesting that it is desperate to latch onto anything for survival.
Ibrahim warned that if Jonathan decides to run against President Bola Tinubu under the opposition’s banner in the next election, he would face defeat once again.
He said, “Talking about 2027 at this point is not only premature but a doomed calculation. Less than 40 percent of the mandate given to President Tinubu under the APC has been fulfilled. There is no reason for the APC to be concerned about Jonathan joining the race.
“The APC defeated him while he was in power, and defeating him now that he’s out of power will be even easier. It won’t cause the party any sleepless nights. So, whoever is behind this idea, if the intention is to intimidate the APC, they should think again. We are not worried.
“As I said, let’s wait until we get closer to the election before making any predictions. It’s too early to start discussing 2027. But even if you bring ten former President Jonathans, they cannot defeat the APC today.”
When reminded that some political analysts believe the APC only defeated Jonathan in 2015 because of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s widespread popularity, Ibrahim laughed.
The APC spokesman maintained that it was Tinubu who led the party when Buhari defeated Jonathan and expressed confidence that history would repeat itself if Jonathan accepts the PDP’s offer to contest against Tinubu.
“The truth is, the APC defeated Goodluck Jonathan when Tinubu was the party’s leader. The APC will defeat him again now that Tinubu is President and leader of the party. It wasn’t just Buhari’s popularity that mattered; it was the party’s strategy. Buhari didn’t run as an independent candidate.
“Forget the political maneuvers you see now. When the time comes, the party will present its candidate, and the people will support them. But it’s too early to discuss this. However, we know how politicians operate—they always want to stir up the political atmosphere to stay relevant. But in a four-year term, the President has barely completed one year, and people are already thinking about who to bring in. No problem, democracy allows for this kind of speculation. But we will act when the time is right,” he said.
Attempts to reach Jonathan’s camp for comment were unsuccessful.
When contacted, Jonathan’s spokesperson Ikechukwu Eze declined to comment, stating that he was driving at the time. Despite further attempts, Eze did not respond to calls or messages regarding Jonathan’s potential interest in the 2027 presidential race.
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