The Peoples Democratic Party is making concerted efforts to convince former President Goodluck Jonathan to run for the presidency in 2027, with some party leaders reaching out to key aspirants to back his ambition.
This development comes as the APC hierarchy endorses President Bola Tinubu for re-election and the PDP zones its ticket to the South. The 2027 presidential race is shaping up as a Southern affair, with prominent Southern politicians like Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde nursing ambitions to confront Tinubu.
It was gathered that Jonathan’s camp has started wooing key aspirants, including Obi, to step down for him. However, sources close to Obi deny any meeting with Jonathan, stating that “it is true that Jonathan’s people want Obi to step down for him but Jonathan himself is yet to meet Obi.
I can assure you that Obi is committed to his cause of rescuing Nigeria.” Obi has been strident in his criticisms of the Tinubu administration and has expressed support for any move that will save the country from the APC.
Jonathan’s backers believe he remains the best Southern politician that can stop Tinubu at the polls because, if elected, he cannot do more than four years, which will pave the way for the prevailing North-South power rotation principle to be sustained.
Tinubu is also eligible for four years if re-elected. In view of the power rotation principle, Obi said recently that he would serve for a term of four years and not seek a second term if elected.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who ran on the platform of the PDP in 2023 but recently defected to the African Democratic Congress, has also promised to do one term if elected.However, Jonathan’s potential candidacy is mired in controversy over his eligibility.
Critics argue that the PDP risks losing in court if it fields Jonathan due to a constitutional amendment that bars anyone who has been sworn in twice as president from contesting the presidency.
The amendment, which was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari on June 7, 2018, stops anyone who had been sworn-in twice as president to contest the presidency. Jonathan, who was vice to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was first sworn-in in 2010 when Yar’Adua passed on. He won his first election in 2011 and was sworn-in again.
He contested for a second term in 2015 but lost to Buhari.Lawyers are divided on the issue, with some arguing that Jonathan is eligible because the law took effect after he left office and cannot be applied retroactively, while others insist that the constitution is clear that no one should be sworn-in more than twice.
Those opposed to Jonathan’s candidacy posit that the issue will be a subject of litigation if he is handed the PDP ticket and goes on to win, adding that it is difficult to predict the decision of the courts with certainty.
According to them, if the court holds that Jonathan is not eligible after the poll, the PDP and key politicians who stepped down for him would all lose out.
