₦airaland Forum

Nigeria’s former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, will be one of the leading candidates to confront incumbent President Bola Tinubu, in the 2027 presidential poll, a close ally of the Bayelsa-born politician confirmed to Vanguard yesterday.


The ally, who is also in the People Democratic Party, PDP, as Jonathan, told Vanguard that the plan to draft the former President to contest on PDP’s platform had gone far, and that he had accepted, adding that the former president was going into the race to find ways of addressing Nigeria’s rising poverty, hardship and the general suffering that had gripped the citizenry in recent years.

The source said the project to bring back Jonathan to reposition Nigeria was being driven by key Nigerian leaders and elders, who believed the former president stabilised the country and its economy within the six years of his administration.

The source said it was in a bid to rescue the country and restore the dwindling economy and Nigeria to its pride of place that key PDP leaders and elders started ‘pleading with him’ to consider running against Tinubu in 2027.

There are those who believe that giving him the opportunity to run for a single term of four years remained the clearest pathway for power to return to the north in 2031 and remain there for eight years without a serious struggle by the south.

Going by the fact that Jonathan had already served out a term of four years, he cannot run for more than another four years in office if he wins the election in 2027, just like Tinubu if he gets re-elected.

Meeting with northern leaders
Jonathan’s ally said the Otuoke-born politician had already met behind the scene with some top leaders within and outside the PDP to consult them and seek their support for the 2027 presidential race.

According to the politician, Jonathan met with former Nigerian military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, retd., last weekend in his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, Niger State, and briefed him on his desire to run for one term in 2027.

Although the source did not say what General IBB’s response to Jonathan was, he, however, expressed optimism that the idea had been properly sold to the north.


The official also disclosed that Jonathan was currently in the South-South consulting and meeting with critical stakeholders, with a view to selling the project to them and soliciting their unflinching support.

It was, however, not clear at press time who the GEJ team was meeting with in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Tuesday and yesterday but it is believed that his support base in the region would not be a problem to him.

PDP intensifies effort to woo Jonathan
Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered that the PDP is actively courting Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election under its platform.

Reliable sources informed the BBC Hausa Service monitored by our correspondent in Kaduna that the move, backed by top PDP figures, including some governors, was aimed at convincing Jonathan to return and lead the party’s charge against the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Tinubu.

While confirming the development, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the party’s move was in response to growing calls from Nigerians who now believe Jonathan’s past administration was under-appreciated.


“Many Nigerians have come to realise the mistake they made in not re-electing Dr. Jonathan. They now acknowledge his achievements and are even apologising, pleading with him to return and rescue the country,” Abdullahi said.

He added that since Jonathan remained a PDP member, the party saw no reason not to approach him. “He is a compassionate leader, and as a party that listens to Nigerians, we felt compelled to heed their call,” he added.

Sources also revealed that some high-ranking PDP stakeholders recently travelled to The Gambia to meet with the former president and persuaded him to accept the party’s ticket.

Jonathan gives conditions
According to Abdullahi, Jonathan has shown signs of interest and has begun laying down conditions, including clarity on whether he would participate in the primaries or be given the ticket outright, and whether the party genuinely recognises his capacity to lead.

“He has started listening to the emissaries and is consulting with his inner circle,” Abdullahi disclosed.

He may get automatic ticket

In an exclusive interview with Vanguard in Abuja yesterday, Daniel Woyengikuro, PDP’s National Financial Secretary, described Jonathan as the party’s national leader and a central figure in its strategy for zoning the presidency to the south.

“Is he not the best candidate for us at this moment? He is not just a former president; he is the leader of the party now. Aside from Obasanjo, the next person in line is him. Goodluck Jonathan is the national leader of this party,” Woyengikuro said.

He explained that the PDP was already consulting with Jonathan and engaging with his associates to encourage his return and deeper involvement in reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape.

“Nigeria has reached a point where we need to salvage this country. We need to salvage this country for our generation and for the generations ahead of us.


“The people who can do this, at least for now, are the leaders of the party, especially when we’re talking about the Southern presidency. Someone like Goodluck Jonathan is okay,” he added.

Asked whether the PDP would consider giving Jonathan an automatic ticket, Woyengikuro gave his full endorsement.

“For me, that’s what I firmly stand for. You can quote me anywhere: I want him to come. An automatic ticket for him, as it stands now. Because we must salvage both this party and the nation.

“If Goodluck finally accepts, you will see that the entire dynamics will change. The entire politics of 2027 will change,” he stated.

In addition to Jonathan, Woyengikuro praised Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, describing him as a dynamic leader capable of bridging generational gaps.


“We have Governor Seyi Makinde, a vibrant leader who is doing great things in Oyo. Now that we are talking about the Presidency remaining in the south, these are the two main individuals I stand for: Goodluck Jonathan and Seyi Makinde,” he said.

What the law says on Jonathan’s eligibility
Amid the push to get Jonathan to run, there is division in the polity on his eligibility, following a 2018 Constitutional amendment that bars those sworn-in twice in the past from running for presidency or governorship.

The sections of the Constitution that address the issue of presidents and governors being sworn in more than twice are Sections 137(3) and 182(3). These sections state that a person who was sworn in to complete the term of another person as President or Governor shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term

*Section 137(3) applies to the President and states: “A person, who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President, shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”

*Section 182(3) applies to Governors and states: “A person, who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as Governor, shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”


These sections aim to prevent individuals from serving more than eight years in office, either as President or Governor, even if they assume the role due to the incumbent’s inability to serve.

The amendment, now referred to as the Fourth Alteration Act, became effective on June 8, 2018, when it was signed into law by then President Muhammadu Buhari.

Currently, lawyers are divided on the issue. While some are of the view that Jonathan could no longer contest any presidential election, having completed the unexpired term of the late President Umar Yar’Adua and concluded another term in 2015, others contended that the new provisions cannot be applied to Jonathan who started his tenure before the law took effect.

In 2022, when the matter came up, a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State held that Jonathan could not be barred by the amendment. Then, there were rumours that the former president would run and some supporters had procured the APC’s N100 million nomination and expression of interest forms but he declined to contest.

The position of lawyers supporting Jonathan’s eligibility was upheld in a judgment delivered on May 27, 2022, by a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State by Justice Isa Hamma Dashen on a suit, marked: FHC/YNG/CS/86/2022 filed by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham (who claimed to be members of the APC).


Defendants in the suit were Jonathan, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Solomon and Abraham argued that by the provisions in Section 137(1)(b) and (3) of the constitution, Jonathan was no longer eligible to vie for the office of the president because he had taken an oath to that office on two previous occasions.

However, Justice Dashen held, among others, that Section 137(3) of the constitution did not bar Jonathan from contesting the 2023 presidential election because the provision could not be applied retroactively.

The judge held that the oath taken by Jonathan on May 6, 2010, after the death of President Yar’Adua, complied with a constitutional provision and not because he contested and won the election.

He noted that the 2007 general election produced the late Musa Yar’Adua as the President and not Jonathan, adding that Section 137(3) could not have a retroactive effect to stop him from contesting the 2023 presidential election.


The judge held that Section 137(3), which came into effect on June 8, 2018, “cannot apply retroactively, except the legislature, in clear terms, expressly stated their intention for it to be so.”

Lawyers divided over Jonathan’s eligibility
Meanwhile, senior lawyers in the country yesterday weighed in on the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Their intervention followed a reported move by the PDP, to consider handing automatic ticket to the former President should he return to the party and become politically active again.

However, the said decision of the PDP threw up questions about Jonathan’s legal standing to vie for presidency again, in view of the fourth alteration to the 1999 Constitution, which forbade anyone from taking the presidential oath twice after election.

Reacting to the development, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. Dayo Akinlaja, argued that former President Jonathan was not caught up by the said constitutional amendment.


According to him: “The relevant provisions on this vexed issue are both clear and unambiguous -Sections 137(3) and 182(3).

“They portend one term of office for any one who falls within the spectrum thereof.

“However, the provision of Section 137(3) cannot be applied to President Jonathan, who was sworn in and did a term under the old constitutional dispensation.

“It has to be borne in mind that Sections 182(3) and 137(3) were introduced in 2017 with a commencement date of 7th June, 2018.

“Thus, President Jonathan is still entitled to contest in my humble view. However, the provision of Section 182(3) would apply to bar a Deputy Governor sworn in to complete the term of a Governor after the commencement of the provision.


“So, such a Deputy turned Governor would be entitled to do no more than one term as a Governor.”

Laws not retroactive-Nnabuihe
While supporting Mr. Akinlaja’s position, another senior lawyer, Mr. Elekwachi Nnabuihe, argued that the constitutional amendment came after Jonathan had already for a second tenure and failed.

He argued that since the law does not have retroactive effect, the former President could not be stopped by the alteration to the 1999 Constitution.

He said: “Section 137(3) of the the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration, No 26) Act, 2017 is very clear and unambiguous.

“For emphasis, its states that: ‘A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.’


“However, section 137 (1) states that: ‘A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if – (b) he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections.’

“The catch word here is ‘elected’.

“It is not in dispute that President Jonathan spent about 13 months in office while completing the term of his predecessor, former President Umaru Yar’Adua.

“He subsequently contested for the election proper in 2011. In other words, going by section 137 (1) he has only been elected into the office once.

“Despite the ambiguity that was occasioned by the introduction of section 137 (3), it is elementary knowledge that laws do not have retroactive effect.


“The amendment came in 2017, while Jonathan already vied for a second term in 2015. If he was legally qualified to contest presidential election at that time, nothing forbids him from doing so again. The amendment will only apply should the Yar’Adua scenario present itself again.

“As it stands, I believe that former President Jonathan is not legally ineligible to participate in the 2027 presidential poll, if he so wishes.

“As for the incongruity that was occasioned by section 137 (3), it is left for the courts to decide on it.

“I believe that the intention of the lawmakers was to bar anyone drom staying in office for more than 8 years, cumulatively.”

Exceeding 8 years in power unconstitutional-JIDEOBI
However, a human rights lawyer, Mr. Johnmary Jideobi took a different position, insisting that should ex-President Jonathan contest the 2027 election and emerge victorious, it could pose a different legal challenge.


“If President Jonathan contests again and eventually wins in 2027, he will have exceeded the maximum number of eight years contemplated by the Constitution for any person to occupy the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“This is the fountain and foundation of the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence explicated in the case of MARWA & Anor v. Nyako Ors (2012) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1296) 199 wherein the Supreme Court near exhaustively (in a consolidated appeal) dealt with the issue of tenure elongation by the some governors.

“This obviously raises a fundamental question of the eligibility of President Jonathan to put himself forward for an election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It appears that the jurisprudential floodlight afforded by the referenced Supreme Court decision points in the direction of his ineligibility,” he added.

Jonathan eminently qualified — Bode George
Speaking on the issue, yesterday, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, said former President Jonathan was eminently qualified to run for office on the platform of the PDP.


George, in a chat with Vanguard, said the former President had a track record which would be salable to Nigerians.

He said: “He is very qualified because he did not leave the party. The more the merrier. All those who say they want to contest should wait till 2035. He is the easiest to sell because he has a track record, especially the economic indices Nigeria witnessed during his tenure.”

On whether having been sworn in twice would not knock Jonathan out of the race, George said: “It cannot because he was sworn in when Umar Yar’Adua died to continue his tenure, and it was because of the Doctrine of Necessity.

He did not contest any election; he was sworn in to complete Yar’Adua’s tenure, who died while in office.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/08/2027-jonathan-ready-to-run-again-close-ally-confirms/

If gej runs, Tinubu will exploit this constitutional point.
Tinubu controls the judiciary, so it will be a huge mistake for PDP to adopt GEJ

Na APC and afons moles in PDP that is shouting GEJ same man they hated so so much

GEJ is a respected politician, he should not sully himself by trying to run again, APC and ADC bots will malign him like no tomorrow

Forkthiefnubu:
Na APC and afons moles in PDP that is shouting GEJ same man they hated so so much

it seems the APC is pursuing u wherever u go like MTN?

If that man knows what is good for him he should just continue to enjoy his retirement jeje

The political landscape now in Nigeria is different from what he left behind almost a decade ago.

Dead on arrival .. Jonathan is wiser and won't accept the ticket.

Let them give the automatic ticket to WIKE

Make una stop all this fake news jare.

Have they corrected the constitution which barred GEJ from contesting again?

Jonathan is not emilokan, because he has integrity and a name to protect and preserve therefore can't context election again in Nigeria. So, keep this your propaganda.

Roadside journalism.

A source.
Our source.
Unconfirmed source.
A reliable source.
An un-named source.
A source who does not want his name published.

Nigerian journalist will soon start cooking soup with all these source.

Jonathan should not let them soil his name.
It will be better for him to just watch them than let them drag his name after frustrating his government.

Keep your name sir.
A good name is better.

OfoIgbo:
If gej runs, Tinubu will exploit this constitutional point.
Tinubu controls the judiciary, so it will be a huge mistake for PDP to adopt GEJ

Once Tinubu loses, the judiciary will abandon him and his 40 thieves.

GEJ to run in 2027... Death on Arrival. PBAT controls Inec, Judiciary, Police and the Military. GEJ is not ready to be mess up, he's even having relative peace anywhere he is.

The amendment did not affect Jonathan. Let me give you a simple example, assuming today is Friday, if the constitution says that anybody that steals chicken will spend 3 days in prison and they sign a bill into law today that anybody that steals chicken will serve one year in prison and it happened that I stole chicken on Thursday but is on trial, the new law will not affect me because I already committed the crime before the new law was passed, therefore I will be judged with the existing law as at the time I stole the chicken. Guess you understand now?

OfoIgbo:
If gej runs, Tinubu will exploit this constitutional point.
Tinubu controls the judiciary, so it will be a huge mistake for PDP to adopt GEJ

Bobloco:
Nigeria’s former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, will be one of the leading candidates to confront incumbent President Bola Tinubu, in the 2027 presidential poll, a close ally of the Bayelsa-born politician confirmed to Vanguard yesterday.


The ally, who is also in the People Democratic Party, PDP, as Jonathan, told Vanguard that the plan to draft the former President to contest on PDP’s platform had gone far, and that he had accepted, adding that the former president was going into the race to find ways of addressing Nigeria’s rising poverty, hardship and the general suffering that had gripped the citizenry in recent years.

The source said the project to bring back Jonathan to reposition Nigeria was being driven by key Nigerian leaders and elders, who believed the former president stabilised the country and its economy within the six years of his administration.

The source said it was in a bid to rescue the country and restore the dwindling economy and Nigeria to its pride of place that key PDP leaders and elders started ‘pleading with him’ to consider running against Tinubu in 2027.

There are those who believe that giving him the opportunity to run for a single term of four years remained the clearest pathway for power to return to the north in 2031 and remain there for eight years without a serious struggle by the south.

Going by the fact that Jonathan had already served out a term of four years, he cannot run for more than another four years in office if he wins the election in 2027, just like Tinubu if he gets re-elected.

Meeting with northern leaders
Jonathan’s ally said the Otuoke-born politician had already met behind the scene with some top leaders within and outside the PDP to consult them and seek their support for the 2027 presidential race.

According to the politician, Jonathan met with former Nigerian military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, retd., last weekend in his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, Niger State, and briefed him on his desire to run for one term in 2027.

Although the source did not say what General IBB’s response to Jonathan was, he, however, expressed optimism that the idea had been properly sold to the north.


The official also disclosed that Jonathan was currently in the South-South consulting and meeting with critical stakeholders, with a view to selling the project to them and soliciting their unflinching support.

It was, however, not clear at press time who the GEJ team was meeting with in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Tuesday and yesterday but it is believed that his support base in the region would not be a problem to him.

PDP intensifies effort to woo Jonathan
Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered that the PDP is actively courting Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election under its platform.

Reliable sources informed the BBC Hausa Service monitored by our correspondent in Kaduna that the move, backed by top PDP figures, including some governors, was aimed at convincing Jonathan to return and lead the party’s charge against the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Tinubu.

While confirming the development, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the party’s move was in response to growing calls from Nigerians who now believe Jonathan’s past administration was under-appreciated.


“Many Nigerians have come to realise the mistake they made in not re-electing Dr. Jonathan. They now acknowledge his achievements and are even apologising, pleading with him to return and rescue the country,” Abdullahi said.

He added that since Jonathan remained a PDP member, the party saw no reason not to approach him. “He is a compassionate leader, and as a party that listens to Nigerians, we felt compelled to heed their call,” he added.

Sources also revealed that some high-ranking PDP stakeholders recently travelled to The Gambia to meet with the former president and persuaded him to accept the party’s ticket.

Jonathan gives conditions
According to Abdullahi, Jonathan has shown signs of interest and has begun laying down conditions, including clarity on whether he would participate in the primaries or be given the ticket outright, and whether the party genuinely recognises his capacity to lead.

“He has started listening to the emissaries and is consulting with his inner circle,” Abdullahi disclosed.

He may get automatic ticket

In an exclusive interview with Vanguard in Abuja yesterday, Daniel Woyengikuro, PDP’s National Financial Secretary, described Jonathan as the party’s national leader and a central figure in its strategy for zoning the presidency to the south.

“Is he not the best candidate for us at this moment? He is not just a former president; he is the leader of the party now. Aside from Obasanjo, the next person in line is him. Goodluck Jonathan is the national leader of this party,” Woyengikuro said.

He explained that the PDP was already consulting with Jonathan and engaging with his associates to encourage his return and deeper involvement in reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape.

“Nigeria has reached a point where we need to salvage this country. We need to salvage this country for our generation and for the generations ahead of us.


“The people who can do this, at least for now, are the leaders of the party, especially when we’re talking about the Southern presidency. Someone like Goodluck Jonathan is okay,” he added.

Asked whether the PDP would consider giving Jonathan an automatic ticket, Woyengikuro gave his full endorsement.

“For me, that’s what I firmly stand for. You can quote me anywhere: I want him to come. An automatic ticket for him, as it stands now. Because we must salvage both this party and the nation.

“If Goodluck finally accepts, you will see that the entire dynamics will change. The entire politics of 2027 will change,” he stated.

In addition to Jonathan, Woyengikuro praised Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, describing him as a dynamic leader capable of bridging generational gaps.


“We have Governor Seyi Makinde, a vibrant leader who is doing great things in Oyo. Now that we are talking about the Presidency remaining in the south, these are the two main individuals I stand for: Goodluck Jonathan and Seyi Makinde,” he said.

What the law says on Jonathan’s eligibility
Amid the push to get Jonathan to run, there is division in the polity on his eligibility, following a 2018 Constitutional amendment that bars those sworn-in twice in the past from running for presidency or governorship.

The sections of the Constitution that address the issue of presidents and governors being sworn in more than twice are Sections 137(3) and 182(3). These sections state that a person who was sworn in to complete the term of another person as President or Governor shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term

*Section 137(3) applies to the President and states: “A person, who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President, shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”

*Section 182(3) applies to Governors and states: “A person, who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as Governor, shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”


These sections aim to prevent individuals from serving more than eight years in office, either as President or Governor, even if they assume the role due to the incumbent’s inability to serve.

The amendment, now referred to as the Fourth Alteration Act, became effective on June 8, 2018, when it was signed into law by then President Muhammadu Buhari.

Currently, lawyers are divided on the issue. While some are of the view that Jonathan could no longer contest any presidential election, having completed the unexpired term of the late President Umar Yar’Adua and concluded another term in 2015, others contended that the new provisions cannot be applied to Jonathan who started his tenure before the law took effect.

In 2022, when the matter came up, a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State held that Jonathan could not be barred by the amendment. Then, there were rumours that the former president would run and some supporters had procured the APC’s N100 million nomination and expression of interest forms but he declined to contest.

The position of lawyers supporting Jonathan’s eligibility was upheld in a judgment delivered on May 27, 2022, by a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State by Justice Isa Hamma Dashen on a suit, marked: FHC/YNG/CS/86/2022 filed by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham (who claimed to be members of the APC).


Defendants in the suit were Jonathan, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Solomon and Abraham argued that by the provisions in Section 137(1)(b) and (3) of the constitution, Jonathan was no longer eligible to vie for the office of the president because he had taken an oath to that office on two previous occasions.

However, Justice Dashen held, among others, that Section 137(3) of the constitution did not bar Jonathan from contesting the 2023 presidential election because the provision could not be applied retroactively.

The judge held that the oath taken by Jonathan on May 6, 2010, after the death of President Yar’Adua, complied with a constitutional provision and not because he contested and won the election.

He noted that the 2007 general election produced the late Musa Yar’Adua as the President and not Jonathan, adding that Section 137(3) could not have a retroactive effect to stop him from contesting the 2023 presidential election.


The judge held that Section 137(3), which came into effect on June 8, 2018, “cannot apply retroactively, except the legislature, in clear terms, expressly stated their intention for it to be so.”

Lawyers divided over Jonathan’s eligibility
Meanwhile, senior lawyers in the country yesterday weighed in on the eligibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Their intervention followed a reported move by the PDP, to consider handing automatic ticket to the former President should he return to the party and become politically active again.

However, the said decision of the PDP threw up questions about Jonathan’s legal standing to vie for presidency again, in view of the fourth alteration to the 1999 Constitution, which forbade anyone from taking the presidential oath twice after election.

Reacting to the development, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. Dayo Akinlaja, argued that former President Jonathan was not caught up by the said constitutional amendment.


According to him: “The relevant provisions on this vexed issue are both clear and unambiguous -Sections 137(3) and 182(3).

“They portend one term of office for any one who falls within the spectrum thereof.

“However, the provision of Section 137(3) cannot be applied to President Jonathan, who was sworn in and did a term under the old constitutional dispensation.

“It has to be borne in mind that Sections 182(3) and 137(3) were introduced in 2017 with a commencement date of 7th June, 2018.

“Thus, President Jonathan is still entitled to contest in my humble view. However, the provision of Section 182(3) would apply to bar a Deputy Governor sworn in to complete the term of a Governor after the commencement of the provision.


“So, such a Deputy turned Governor would be entitled to do no more than one term as a Governor.”

Laws not retroactive-Nnabuihe
While supporting Mr. Akinlaja’s position, another senior lawyer, Mr. Elekwachi Nnabuihe, argued that the constitutional amendment came after Jonathan had already for a second tenure and failed.

He argued that since the law does not have retroactive effect, the former President could not be stopped by the alteration to the 1999 Constitution.

He said: “Section 137(3) of the the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration, No 26) Act, 2017 is very clear and unambiguous.

“For emphasis, its states that: ‘A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.’


“However, section 137 (1) states that: ‘A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if – (b) he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections.’

“The catch word here is ‘elected’.

“It is not in dispute that President Jonathan spent about 13 months in office while completing the term of his predecessor, former President Umaru Yar’Adua.

“He subsequently contested for the election proper in 2011. In other words, going by section 137 (1) he has only been elected into the office once.

“Despite the ambiguity that was occasioned by the introduction of section 137 (3), it is elementary knowledge that laws do not have retroactive effect.


“The amendment came in 2017, while Jonathan already vied for a second term in 2015. If he was legally qualified to contest presidential election at that time, nothing forbids him from doing so again. The amendment will only apply should the Yar’Adua scenario present itself again.

“As it stands, I believe that former President Jonathan is not legally ineligible to participate in the 2027 presidential poll, if he so wishes.

“As for the incongruity that was occasioned by section 137 (3), it is left for the courts to decide on it.

“I believe that the intention of the lawmakers was to bar anyone drom staying in office for more than 8 years, cumulatively.”

Exceeding 8 years in power unconstitutional-JIDEOBI
However, a human rights lawyer, Mr. Johnmary Jideobi took a different position, insisting that should ex-President Jonathan contest the 2027 election and emerge victorious, it could pose a different legal challenge.


“If President Jonathan contests again and eventually wins in 2027, he will have exceeded the maximum number of eight years contemplated by the Constitution for any person to occupy the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“This is the fountain and foundation of the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence explicated in the case of MARWA & Anor v. Nyako Ors (2012) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1296) 199 wherein the Supreme Court near exhaustively (in a consolidated appeal) dealt with the issue of tenure elongation by the some governors.

“This obviously raises a fundamental question of the eligibility of President Jonathan to put himself forward for an election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It appears that the jurisprudential floodlight afforded by the referenced Supreme Court decision points in the direction of his ineligibility,” he added.

Jonathan eminently qualified — Bode George
Speaking on the issue, yesterday, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, said former President Jonathan was eminently qualified to run for office on the platform of the PDP.


George, in a chat with Vanguard, said the former President had a track record which would be salable to Nigerians.

He said: “He is very qualified because he did not leave the party. The more the merrier. All those who say they want to contest should wait till 2035. He is the easiest to sell because he has a track record, especially the economic indices Nigeria witnessed during his tenure.”

On whether having been sworn in twice would not knock Jonathan out of the race, George said: “It cannot because he was sworn in when Umar Yar’Adua died to continue his tenure, and it was because of the Doctrine of Necessity.

He did not contest any election; he was sworn in to complete Yar’Adua’s tenure, who died while in office.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/08/2027-jonathan-ready-to-run-again-close-ally-confirms/

So all these epistle just to tell us Jonathan wants to contest 2027, are you hungry

nothingspoil70:
If that man knows what is good for him he should just continue to enjoy his retirement jeje

The political landscape now in Nigeria is different from what he left behind almost a decade ago.

If you know what is good for you, keep shut and go look for your daily bread. He has the right to run if he so wishes, your opinion don’t matter.

He's not eligible to contest

free2ryhme:
So all these epistle just to tell us Jonathan wants to contest 2027, are you hungry

Like seriously! Almost got tired of the endless scrolling

It was during Jonathan's regime my business prospered most.

.. personally speaking

I don't think it's possible. He's already served two terms in office. He completed yaraduas term from 2009 to 2011. His second term was from 2011 to 2015. I tell you, some APC top shots will go to court, and the court will bar him from contesting.
Besides, there's no guarantee that Nigeria's problems will be solved if Johnathan comes back.

This a good development for PDP,and the northern region will give it massive support for Jonathan to run for one term and power returns to North. This is the best thing to woken up PDP as a party.

Just like in the past, these are sensational news !

Walai:
The amendment did not affect Jonathan. Let me give you a simple example, assuming today is Friday, if the constitution says that anybody that steals chicken will spend 3 days in prison and they sign a bill into law today that anybody that steals chicken will serve one year in prison and it happened that I stole chicken on Thursday but is on trial, the new law will not affect me because I already committed the crime before the new law was passed, therefore I will be judged with the existing law as at the time I stole the chicken. Guess you understand now?

Of course, I understand the law doesn't affect Jonathan. But you are dealing with a government where the judiciary declares that black is white.

In spite of the constitutional breach in Shettima running for two different roles simultaneously, the courts still declared him eligible.
Despite the constitutional provision that any president should also get up to 25% of votes in Abuja, Tinubu who never got those percentages still managed to corrupt the courts to rule in his favour.

Nigerian institutions have been severely corruped by both Buhari and Tinubu, so I can assure you Tinubu will activate one wuruwuru or the other to hurt Jonathan with this legislation. And Jonathan doesn't have the massive and fanatical following that PO has, so it will be very difficult for the people to go out to defend GEJ when this wuruwuru starts.

Personally I don't mind Jonathan getting the presidency, as I expect him to be hundreds of times better than Tinubu.
I expect PO to be as good as GEJ when it comes to managing the nation. PO will also give Nigeria two extra advantages, as he is in a better position to deal with corruption, and he will additionally drastically reduce the cost of governance. These two extras give PO the advantage.

But I don't mind GEJ. Instead of Tinubu to continue, let GEJ take over.

Any permutation where there are more than 2 candidates and Tinubu wins before 12 noon.

OfoIgbo:
Of course, I understand the law doesn't affect Jonathan. But you are dealing with a government where the judiciary declares that black is white.

In spite of the constitutional breach in Shettima running for two different roles simultaneously, the courts still declared him eligible.
Despite the constitutional provision that any president should also get up to 25% of votes in Abuja, Tinubu who never got those percentages still managed to corrupt the courts to rule in his favour.

Nigerian institutions have been severely corruped by both Buhari and Tinubu, so I can assure you Tinubu will activate one wuruwuru or the other to hurt Jonathan with this legislation. And Jonathan doesn't have the massive and fanatical following that PO has, so it will be very difficult for the people to go out to defend GEJ when this wuruwuru starts.

Personally I don't mind Jonathan getting the presidency, as I expect him to be hundreds of times better than Tinubu.
I expect PO to be as good as GEJ when it comes to managing the nation. PO will also give Nigeria two extra advantages, as he is in a better position to deal with corruption, and he will additionally drastically reduce the cost of governance. These two extras give PO the advantage.

But I don't mind GEJ. Instead of Tinubu to continue, let GEJ take over.

If Jonathan is running obi will naturally died down politically. Only the igbos as usual will still vote for obi because of presidency. In south south, obi will not win any state and will even score miserable votes. Tinubu and Jonathan will battle to get northerner votes cos they will be divided among the two. Atiku will get little votes cos northerners with ambition of becoming president will support tinubu or Jonathan. Obi is not relevant in the equation in the north. Go to Twitter and Facebook how igbos are attacking Jonathan for contesting and some idiots are insulting him. The tribalistic nature of igbos will be out when Jonathan is contesting and Nigerians will know they just want presidency at all cost. The will start attacking Jonathan from every corner. No northern pdp governor is joining ADC cos they know Atiku will surely be the presidential candidate and that will stop thier ambition. They will be willing to support Jonathan why APC governors will support Tinubu. Politics is not chochocho and nzogbu nzogbu that igbos always deployed. The only best time for igbo presidency is in 2039 and they need to work for it by supporting either Jonathan or Tinubu they so much hate cos if Tinubu still win in 2027 and we south south supported him to the point of having up to 40% or more when Jonathan contest too, they should have it the mind that we will get the APC ticket of 2039. The like of Umahi understand the game and he is advicing his people to see beyond 2027 which is out of thier reach but many are insulting him. Soludo knows that too. He will join APC after reelection.

OfoIgbo:
Of course, I understand the law doesn't affect Jonathan. But you are dealing with a government where the judiciary declares that black is white.

In spite of the constitutional breach in Shettima running for two different roles simultaneously, the courts still declared him eligible.
Despite the constitutional provision that any president should also get up to 25% of votes in Abuja, Tinubu who never got those percentages still managed to corrupt the courts to rule in his favour.

Nigerian institutions have been severely corruped by both Buhari and Tinubu, so I can assure you Tinubu will activate one wuruwuru or the other to hurt Jonathan with this legislation. And Jonathan doesn't have the massive and fanatical following that PO has, so it will be very difficult for the people to go out to defend GEJ when this wuruwuru starts.

Personally I don't mind Jonathan getting the presidency, as I expect him to be hundreds of times better than Tinubu.
I expect PO to be as good as GEJ when it comes to managing the nation. PO will also give Nigeria two extra advantages, as he is in a better position to deal with corruption, and he will additionally drastically reduce the cost of governance. These two extras give PO the advantage.

But I don't mind GEJ. Instead of Tinubu to continue, let GEJ take over.

which corruption will he fight. Obi will soon fade away politically, When Jonathan decide to run, you will know better. It will be only you igbos for obi. The north, south west and south south will be too hot for him to handle.

kedeojo:
which corruption will he fight. Obi will soon fade away politically, When Jonathan decide to run, you will know better. It will be only you igbos for obi. The north, south west and south south will be too hot for him to handle.

Gbam! Well said.. Lots of folks are so emotional with politics!

kedeojo:
If Jonathan is running obi will naturally died down politically. Only the igbos as usual will still vote for obi because of presidency. In south south, obi will not win any state and will even score miserable votes. Tinubu and Jonathan will battle to get northerner votes cos they will be divided among the two. Atiku will get little votes cos northerners with ambition of becoming president will support tinubu or Jonathan. Obi is not relevant in the equation in the north. Go to Twitter and Facebook how igbos are attacking Jonathan for contesting and some idiots are insulting him. The tribalistic nature of igbos will be out when Jonathan is contesting and Nigerians will know they just want presidency at all cost. The will start attacking Jonathan from every corner. No northern pdp governor is joining ADC cos they know Atiku will surely be the presidential candidate and that will stop thier ambition. They will be willing to support Jonathan why APC governors will support Tinubu. Politics is not chochocho and nzogbu nzogbu that igbos always deployed. The only best time for igbo presidency is in 2039 and they need to work for it by supporting either Jonathan or Tinubu they so much hate cos if Tinubu still win in 2027 and we south south supported him to the point of having up to 40% or more when Jonathan contest too, they should have it the mind that we will get the APC ticket of 2039. The like of Umahi understand the game and he is advicing his people to see beyond 2027 which is out of thier reach but many are insulting him. Soludo knows that too. He will join APC after reelection.

Mr wishful thinker, Johnathan ain't gonna contest to begin with so all this your chocho cho about Obi should rest. 🤣 You are actually the one doing amala politics. Lol

kedeojo:
If Jonathan is running obi will naturally died down politically. Only the igbos as usual will still vote for obi because of presidency. In south south, obi will not win any state and will even score miserable votes. Tinubu and Jonathan will battle to get northerner votes cos they will be divided among the two. Atiku will get little votes cos northerners with ambition of becoming president will support tinubu or Jonathan. Obi is not relevant in the equation in the north. Go to Twitter and Facebook how igbos are attacking Jonathan for contesting and some idiots are insulting him. The tribalistic nature of igbos will be out when Jonathan is contesting and Nigerians will know they just want presidency at all cost. The will start attacking Jonathan from every corner. No northern pdp governor is joining ADC cos they know Atiku will surely be the presidential candidate and that will stop thier ambition. They will be willing to support Jonathan why APC governors will support Tinubu. Politics is not chochocho and nzogbu nzogbu that igbos always deployed. The only best time for igbo presidency is in 2039 and they need to work for it by supporting either Jonathan or Tinubu they so much hate cos if Tinubu still win in 2027 and we south south supported him to the point of having up to 40% or more when Jonathan contest too, they should have it the mind that we will get the APC ticket of 2039. The like of Umahi understand the game and he is advicing his people to see beyond 2027 which is out of thier reach but many are insulting him. Soludo knows that too. He will join APC after reelection.

Jonathan needs Igbo support to be competitive.
The 5 SE states, and up to 25% of votes in Lagos and Abuja and Delta and Rivers, is what GEJ cannot do without.

Peter Obi remains the favourite, as he will do well in states like Adamawa, Kaduna, Taraba, Benue, Plateau and Cross River states, along with the aforementioned states.

Eventually also, it will come to the fore that GEJ was the person that handed over Nigeria to the people that destroyed it. Buhari and Tinubu have destroyed Nigeria, and it was GEJ that hnded over the country to these destroyers.
Peter Obi will never hand over to destroyers.

And finally, if Peter Obi runs, it will definitely guarantee that GEJ will not win. Additionally it will ensure that Igbos don't return into PDP, which is what PDP chieftains seriouisly need, as they know Igbos and the SS were the major backbone of PDP when PDP led the nation.
It will be impossible to convince the Igbos to ever support PDP again, a party they wholeheartedly supported from 1999 to 2022, without being considered when the top job ought to have been zoned to them.
This will cause PDP's perpetual decline.