Former President Goodluck Jonathan is currently deliberating on a potential bid for the 2027 presidential election, following persistent calls from a coalition of supporters. On a recent Thursday, a large crowd of youths, operating under the aegis of the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan (also referred to as the Coalition for Jonathan 2027), converged on his Maitama, Abuja residence. The demonstration, which caused significant traffic disruption, featured chants, music, and placards urging him to run, with messages such as “GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!” and “GEJ, if you no run, we quench”. The youths highlighted Jonathan’s perceived role as a unifying national figure capable of tackling Nigeria’s economic and political challenges ahead of the 2027 general election.

Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, Jonathan acknowledged their fervent appeals and stated his intention to “consult widely before taking any decision.” He also seized the opportunity to encourage young Nigerians to embrace more active roles in the democratic process. He underscored the critical need for peaceful, transparent, and credible elections, lamenting Nigeria’s exceptionally high rate of voter apathy, which he described as a significant threat to democracy. Jonathan urged youths to transcend passive observation and participate robustly in civic and political activities, pointing out that potentially 50% of those advocating for his candidacy might not even possess a Permanent Voters Card (PVC). He also emphasized the importance of patriotism, unity, and peace, urging citizens to build a country future generations would be proud of, thereby addressing issues like the “Japa” syndrome where young Nigerians seek opportunities abroad. He warned that unpatriotic citizens could destroy a nation and stressed that without transparent electoral processes, competent citizens would continue to avoid politics.

The Coalition for Jonathan 2027, led by Dr. Tom Ohikere, had previously visited Jonathan on April 8, 2026, to convey their strong appeal for him to run, expressing their genuine fear of Nigeria’s impending collapse due to eroding peace and unity. Their latest rally was a direct follow-up, aiming to elicit a definitive statement from the former president, asking him to hear their cries and contest the 2027 presidential elections.

Meanwhile, political analysts are weighing in on the implications of Jonathan’s potential return. Mahdi Shehu, a public affairs analyst, suggested that Jonathan’s entry into the 2027 race could significantly reshape Nigeria’s political landscape. Shehu believes Jonathan would “dilute bloc votes being built through sentiments” and appeal to those who felt deliberately misled into opposing his re-election in 2015. He further argued that many Nigerians who appreciate Jonathan’s peaceful concession of defeat in 2015 might be inclined to support him again, branding him a “sure game changer” if he decides to run.

Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, a legal challenge has emerged seeking to bar Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election. A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled a hearing for Friday, May 8, for a suit filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, seeks a declaration that Jonathan is constitutionally ineligible to run for president again, citing sections 1(1), (2) and (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution. Jideobi’s argument, supported by an affidavit from Emmanuel Agida, posits that Jonathan has already exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures. This is based on his completion of the unexpired term of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua after his death in 2010, followed by his victory and full term in the 2011 election. The plaintiff warns that if Jonathan were to contest and win, he would be sworn in as president for a third time, an action that would breach the Constitution. Jonathan, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Attorney-General of the Federation are listed as defendants in the suit, with Justice Peter Lifu having previously ordered hearing notices. The suit was filed in the public interest, in defence of the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution, and to preserve the integrity of the Nigerian constitutional order.

Jonathan served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, having initially succeeded the late President Yar’Adua following his death in office. He was then sworn in after winning the April 2011 presidential election but subsequently lost his re-election bid in 2015 to former President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress. While Jonathan has not formally declared his intention, unverified reports from SaharaReporters suggest he might announce his candidacy as early as Friday, with speculation that he could join the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a party recently joined by figures like Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, though this could not be independently verified.