Former lawmaker and civil rights activist, Senator Shehu Sani, has advised former President Goodluck Jonathan to steer clear of the 2027 presidential election, warning that any attempt to return to the presidency could jeopardize his legacy and upset Nigeria’s fragile political balance.
Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly, made the remarks via a public statement on Facebook over the weekend. His comments have since triggered widespread debate among political observers and citizens alike.
Sani said Jonathan’s name commands respect and his legacy remains significant, but contesting in 2027 would do more harm than good both to the South and to his personal reputation.
The former senator argued that Nigeria, currently under a Southern presidency, would find it difficult to justify a second consecutive term for another southerner. President Bola Tinubu, who hails from the South-West, assumed office in 2023 under the All Progressives Congress (APC), ending an eight-year run of northern leadership.
He warned that encouraging another Southern candidate in 2027, when a Southerner is already serving, would raise legitimate questions about equity, fairness, and regional balance.
Goodluck Jonathan, who led Nigeria between 2010 and 2015, famously conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari, a gesture that earned him global recognition and elevated his status as a democrat. Sani warned that re-entering the political arena could erode that image, stating that Jonathan left office with dignity, and trying to return to power through a highly divisive political contest could tarnish that honor.
Beyond regional concerns, Sani also highlighted the need for generational change in Nigeria’s leadership. He stressed that recycling former presidents would dampen the prospects of younger leaders and slow political innovation in the country.
He said Nigeria’s future lies in the hands of new leaders, not in resurrecting old ones.
While there has been no official indication from Jonathan that he plans to run in 2027, political speculation continues to swirl. In recent years, various interest groups have called on him to return, with some even attempting to draft him into the APC ahead of the 2023 elections, a move he declined.
For now, Sani is urging Jonathan to continue serving Nigeria not through electoral ambition but as a respected elder statesman. According to him, the former president has a bigger role to play guiding the nation with wisdom, not contesting for power again.
As the political season draws nearer, Jonathan’s next move or refusal to make one will be closely watched.
