BREAKING: Jonathan Will Contest 2027 Presidential Election — Jerry Gana Confirms
After months of speculation and quiet consultations, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), according to a confirmation by Prof. Jerry Gana.
News Week Nigeria reports that Gana, a former Minister of Information and one of the party’s elder statesmen, made the disclosure during an interaction with journalists at the PDP State Congress in Minna.
“There had been rumours, but I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as the PDP candidate,” Gana declared.
Why Jonathan is Being Backed
Jonathan, who lost his re-election bid in 2015 to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has largely avoided making public comments about a comeback. However, behind the scenes, many Northern politicians and top opposition figures have been pushing for his return.
Supporters argue that his single-term limit—if he wins—would create room for power to shift back to the North in 2031. Within the PDP, some party leaders view Jonathan as a unifying figure capable of reviving the crisis-ridden party ahead of the polls.
Gana said the renewed demand for Jonathan stemmed from growing discontent with the current leadership in the country.
“In 2015, former President Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of Nigerians. After him, another President ruled for eight years and now another has ruled for two years,” he said.
“Nigerians have seen the difference and the difference is very clear. Nigerians are now asking us to bring back our friend, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as PDP candidate and you will vote for him to return as President again.”
Consultations Ongoing Despite Silence
While Jonathan has publicly maintained silence on the matter, sources within the PDP say he has been meeting quietly with political leaders across regions. His eligibility had been a subject of debate, considering he previously completed the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua before serving a full term of his own.
Though doubts linger in some quarters, Gana’s statement marks the clearest indication yet that Jonathan is preparing a return to the national stage.
With the PDP battling internal divisions and defections, party stakeholders believe his entry could reset the 2027 race and rekindle the party’s national appeal.
