Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed reports that he has abandoned any ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing such claims as false and misleading.
The denial came from his cousin, Azibaola Robert, who clarified in a statement on his verified Facebook page that Jonathan had not foreclosed his political options.
“The story is completely false. Former President Jonathan never said he would not contest in 2027. The so-called aide quoted in the publication does not exist,” Azibaola wrote.
He stressed that while the former president has not formally declared his intention, he equally has not ruled himself out of the race.
“The former president has made it clear that he would not yield to calls not to run, since those making such admonitions had selfish motives,” Azibaola added, without disclosing when Jonathan might formally declare.
Jonathan, who served as president between 2010 and 2015, remains a formidable force in Nigerian politics and has been the subject of widespread speculation about a possible comeback.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has confirmed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is considering Jonathan and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi as possible standard-bearers for the 2027 elections.
Speaking during a national television interview, Mohammed, who is Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, said Jonathan remained “one of the most celebrated politicians today despite previous political blackmail against him” before the 2019 elections.
“But certainly, President Jonathan is one of the candidates we are thinking of, if he joins us and opens his mind to run,” Mohammed said.
He added that Obi, who contested under the Labour Party in 2023, would also be given a chance if he returns to the PDP.
“And even other people like Governor Obi, because if he decides to come to a better platform where there are no encumbrances, he will be given the opportunity too,” Mohammed stated.
When asked if PDP governors were in talks with Obi, he replied:
“Have you not seen him with me? He’s my brother, my friend. And of course, he’s one of the most celebrated politicians too. You see him within the coalition or no coalition. Definitely, we are not sleeping, only that we don’t make noise.”
Mohammed further disclosed that other southern politicians, including Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, were also free to contest the ticket.
“There are so many politicians. I even had a session with Governor Amaechi. I have not been sleeping. I have to make sure I create a closing-of-rank for people to come and help,” he said.
On the possibility of Rotimi Amaechi returning to the PDP, Mohammed replied:
“Well, he’s free if he wants to come back.”
The Bauchi governor noted that the PDP lost the 2023 presidential election because it failed to zone its ticket to the South.
He argued that the party needs a Christian from the South as presidential candidate in 2027, with a Muslim from the North as running mate, to strengthen national balance.
As speculation grows, Jonathan’s silence and the PDP’s internal realignment have kept political observers guessing whether the former president will stage a dramatic return to frontline politics.
Arise News
