Former President Goodluck Jonathan is poised to make a political comeback in the 2027 presidential election, a close associate of the Bayelsa born politician has revealed.
Speaking to Vanguard on Wednesday, the ally who is also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) confirmed that consultations to draft Jonathan back into the presidential race had reached an advanced stage, with the former leader reportedly giving his consent.
According to the source, the renewed push is backed by influential political leaders and elder statesmen who believe Jonathan’s past administration provided stability and economic direction that Nigeria currently lacks.
The motivation, he said, is to address worsening poverty and widespread hardship across the country.
“Jonathan is not coming back for politics’ sake. He is being encouraged to run to help rescue the country from its current economic and social challenges,” the ally said.
The source further explained that the move is strategic, if elected, Jonathan would serve only one term, having previously served from 2011 to 2015, which would open the door for power to rotate back to the North by 2031.
“Several PDP leaders are behind this initiative. They believe Jonathan’s single term presidency is the most viable pathway to restore Nigeria’s political and economic balance,” he added.
According to Vanguard, Jonathan has reportedly begun a series of private consultations with influential figures across the political spectrum.
Last weekend, he was said to have met with former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retired), at his Minna residence to discuss the 2027 bid.
Though details of the meeting remain undisclosed, the source indicated the message was well received in northern political circles.
The former president is also believed to be holding meetings with key stakeholders in the South South region to shore up grassroots support.
While details of his engagements in Port Harcourt this week remain unclear, observers said Jonathan still commands significant influence in the region.
Jonathan, who lost his reelection bid in 2015 to President Muhammadu Buhari, has since maintained a relatively low profile in domestic politics but remains active on the international stage, particularly in peacebuilding efforts across Africa.