Politics

Why Jonathan should not contest in 2027 – Shehu Sani

Former President Goodluck Jonathan should not contest in the 2027 presidential election, according to Senator Shehu Sani, a former federal lawmaker. Sani cited several reasons for this advice, including lack of unity in PDP.
Senator Sani, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party Jonathan used to win the election in 2011, was no longer united.

The ex-federal lawmaker said, “Each time there is an election, the name of Jonathan comes up, but it is his volition to contest, but I advise him not to do that.

According to him, ”The reason is very simple: the PDP he used to know is not the PDP now.

“The PDP in the South-West is endorsing the president. Some members of the party are in the coalition. So, it is not the party he used to know so he shouldn’t waste his time”, he added.

Jonathan, who deputised former President Umaru Yar’adua for three years before his death, succeeded him on May 6, 2010, till May 29, 2011.

The former  was elected on the PDP platform and was in power till May 29, 2015.

Dr. Jonathan also re-contested in 2015 but lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Constitutionally, Jonathan still has one term of four years to be president, but he has not shown interest in re-contesting.

Ahead of the 2027 election, talks of Jonathan’s return have gained momentum within political circles, especially with debate about a one-term Southern presidency and the coming of the new opposition coalition floated by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Sani, the Senator for Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly, said the coalition members were not ideologically different from President Bola Tinubu.

The former lawmaker said, “we are in a democracy, and it is within the right and ambit of our democratic experiment or law to have an opposition that will give an alternative.

”But if their only cause for power is to remove Tinubu without providing any alternative to governance and his style, then, they have no agenda.

Sani argued that the coalition members aren’t ideologically different from President Tinubu, making them unlikely to offer a compelling alternative.
”The opposition is currently fragmented, with potential candidates like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi contesting under different parties.
”This fragmentation weakens the opposition’s chances against Tinubu, ” he said.
Sani questioned Jonathan’s ability to tackle Nigeria’s current challenges, including insecurity and corruption, citing his past performances as president.
Other notable figures, like Anthony Sani, a former Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), share similar views.
They argued that Jonathan’s candidature won’t guarantee victory
given the current state of the opposition and the economy, it’s unlikely Jonathan would win the election.
They said that the North might prefer Tinubu in 2027, with both regions eyeing a Northern presidency in 2031. This dynamic could further complicate Jonathan’s chances.
In light of these factors, Shehu Sani and other critics advise Jonathan to reconsider his potential presidential ambitions for 2027.

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