Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said he would undertake broad consultations before deciding whether to contest the 2027 presidential election amid mounting calls for his return to office.
Jonathan made the remark on Thursday while addressing youth groups who visited him in Abuja to urge him to join the presidential race.
According to the former President, seeking Nigeria’s highest office requires deep reflection and consultation, stressing that leadership should not be approached casually.
“You are asking me to come and contest the next election.
The presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you, and I’ll consult widely,” he told the delegation.
Jonathan commended the youths for showing concern about the nation’s future, noting that patriotism remained critical to national development.
“If you have no interest in the country, you will not bother to be here,” he added.
He also urged young Nigerians to continue advocating peaceful and credible elections, warning that flawed electoral processes often discourage competent citizens from participating in politics.
“The key thing we need in this country is peace, so you continue to advocate for that. And you continue to advocate for peaceful and credible elections,” he said.
The former President expressed concern over Nigeria’s low voter turnout during elections, describing it as one of the poorest participation rates globally despite the country’s large population.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to investigate the causes of voter apathy and improve participation in future polls.
Jonathan also challenged young Nigerians to obtain voter cards and participate actively in elections instead of remaining passive observers.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to hear a suit today seeking to bar Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was filed by a legal practitioner, Johnmary Jideobi, who argued that Jonathan had allegedly exhausted the constitutional limit for occupying the office of President.
The plaintiff is asking the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a candidate in the next presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu had earlier directed that hearing notices be served on the defendants after they reportedly failed to file responses.
Jonathan was listed as the first defendant in the matter, while INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation were joined as second and third defendants respectively.
In the suit, the plaintiff argued that Jonathan completed the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua after his death in 2010 before winning and serving another full term in 2011.
According to the plaintiff, another presidential term would amount to a third oath of office, allegedly contrary to constitutional provisions.
An affidavit supporting the suit stated that reports suggesting Jonathan could return to the race prompted the legal action, which it described as being in defence of constitutional order and the rule of law.
However, the Nigeria Democratic Congress dismissed speculations that it had entered into any agreement with Jonathan ahead of the 2027 election.
Speaking in Abuja, the party’s Deputy National Spokesman, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, said consultations regarding its presidential ticket were still ongoing and no candidate had been endorsed.
He maintained that the party had not zoned its presidential ticket and remained open to discussions with prominent political figures across party lines.
Abdulsalam also described reports linking Jonathan to the party as speculation, insisting that no formal arrangement existed between both sides.
“There is no concrete move like that in the hierarchy of our party, and such a decision has not been taken,” he said.
He, however, added that Jonathan remained free to contest on any political platform if he chose to do so.