Political pundits in Nigeria, especially those who admire former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, are in a quandary about his nomination by a faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2027 presidential race.
The Tanimu Turaki faction of PDP is not even recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and it nominated Jonathan in absentia; so, the question political insiders are asking is, is this a plan to rubbish the image of the former president or is he subtly interested in the game?
When asked whether he would contest the 2027 presidential election, Jonathan said he would consult widely, observing that contesting Nigeria’s presidency is “not a computer game”.
“You are asking me to come and contest the next election. Presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you and I’ll consult widely,” he said.
But he further observed, “The key thing we need in this country is peace. You continue to advocate for that. And you continue to advocate for peaceful and credible elections in the country. Because if we don’t have peaceful and credible elections, most good citizens will not want to bother to get involved in politics.”
Many observers describe his response as a rejection of the idea but he did not want to pointedly state that. In fact, he lamented the perception of Nigerians abroad about the country and attributed it partly to leadership failures over the years.
“The highest level of disdain shown to Nigerian youths abroad has to stop. Even African countries that we have, African countries that even when we are students, as of our scholarship monies, we are contributing to solve problems in those countries,” he said.
On his call to come and run for the election, he further said, “I will consult. I cannot just wake up and say I want to be the president of Nigeria again. But I am telling you that I will consult. If there is a need to, I will wait,” Jonathan stated.
It ought to be noted that the PDP faction that is recognised by INEC is the one supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, who recently announced Senator Sandy Onor as the party’s presidential candidate.
So, from all indications, Jonathan may not be disposed to contest election in 2027, but why is he not making clear and unequivocal statement about that? Is it part of the ‘complicated’ Nigerian politics?
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has called on Jonathan and urged him to reject the nomination of a faction of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination for the 2027 presidential race.
Keyamo described the nomination as a “bizarre comedy” and criticised those behind the nomination.
“This is some kind of bizarre comedy taken too far by supposedly grown adults and some names that were actually in the corridors of power at some point in this country,” he wrote in his X account.
Also, the Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly and former Southeast spokesman for President Bola Tinubu, Denge (Dr.) Josef Onoh, has urged former President Goodluck Jonathan not to contest the 2027 presidential election. Onoh described Jonathan as a respected global statesman whose decision to concede defeat in 2015 demonstrated democratic maturity.
Even the PDP faction controlled by Wike has urged him not to run while allegedly blocked attempt for the Turaki-led PDP to hold a meeting and ratify Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the PDP few days ago said it would resist an attempt aimed at intimidating it, stressing that no intimidation would stop the party from ratifying former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said that the faction had been informed by the proprietors of A Class Event Centre of the threat by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
He alleged that Mr Wike has threatened to shut down the centre if the faction was allowed to use their hall for its presidential candidate ratification ceremonies.
So, political observers ask, why ignite such political imbroglio when you are not interested in the contest? Why not make your position clear? In fact, many political observers have described his silence as proverbial.
Nick Udenta
