Jonathan Under Pressure to Drop 2027 Presidential Ambition

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan may be reconsidering his rumored plan to contest the 2027 presidential election following growing pressure from key stakeholders, particularly from his home region, the Niger Delta.

According to sources close to the former president, influential political figures and groups within and outside the South South zone Jonathan’s long-standing political base have been strongly urging him to shelve any plans of returning to Aso Rock.

Although Jonathan has never publicly declared interest in the 2027 race, speculation about a possible comeback has persisted, fueled by support from certain northern and international circles.

Reports indicate that prominent northern politicians, including former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, and Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed, were among those who had quietly endorsed the idea of a Jonathan return. Additionally, some foreign interests, notably from the United Kingdom, the United States, Ghana, and Burkina Faso, were reportedly open to backing him should he decide to run.

The speculation intensified after Jonathan allegedly held a series of private consultations with Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Acting National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark. Those meetings, insiders said, reignited discussions over which political platform might accommodate his potential candidacy.

Among Jonathan’s northern backers, Bala Mohammed and Professor Jerry Gana have been particularly outspoken. Gana even argued that Jonathan remains “judicially eligible” to contest, insisting that no legal barrier could prevent his return.

However, reports suggest that the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were unsettled by these developments and allegedly launched a counter-campaign to neutralize the idea. APC strategists were said to have intensified political maneuvers in the South South, allegedly warning governors and power brokers of possible investigations by anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

With most South South states now leaning toward the APC, political analysts believe Jonathan may have realized that the political terrain is no longer favorable for a comeback. This sentiment reportedly deepened after a recent visit by ex-militant leader Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, to Jonathan’s country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

Although Jonathan told journalists the meeting centered on regional security issues, sources revealed that Tompolo’s real mission was to advise the former president against contesting in 2027. Tompolo was said to have encouraged him instead to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid, warning that the political climate was not conducive for another southern challenge.

The meeting, which reportedly lasted over two hours, was said to have left Jonathan reflective. Insiders disclosed that he promised to give Tompolo’s counsel serious consideration, acknowledging the shifting alliances across Nigeria’s political landscape.

Since that encounter, Jonathan’s body language has fueled speculation that he may indeed be stepping back from the 2027 race. This perception has reportedly emboldened some of his close associates, including Bayelsa State governor Douye Diri, to begin distancing themselves from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Several of Jonathan’s former allies, including former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, current Senator Kombowei Benson, and former presidential aide Dr. Waripamo Owei-Dudafa, have already defected to the APC. Governor Diri is also said to be quietly weighing his political future. Of the six governors in the South South, only Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara still maintains open loyalty to the PDP.

As political realignments continue ahead of 2027, sources close to Jonathan say he is expected to make a public statement soon either to confirm or finally dismiss his rumored presidential ambition.