Influential politicians in northern Nigeria have begun efforts to select former President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2027 presidential election.
Their calculation hinges on the fact that Jonathan, who served as president from 2011 to 2015, has only four more years left in office.
The operation is reportedly being spearheaded by a governor general in the northeast and a retired general in the northwest.
Sources said Northern power brokers had considered their options and concluded that Mr Jonathan’s possible candidacy was in their collective interests.
They are basing their strategy on the 1999 constitution, which allows individuals to hold the presidential office for up to two terms.
The group’s efforts are part of a broader strategy to derail President Bola Tinubu’s re-election plans.
However, with both factions opposed to Tinubu’s continued leadership, a rival group of other northern politicians and influential figures is pushing for another southern candidate.
Proponents of the “Jonathan for 2027” campaign have reportedly launched a major campaign aimed at building support for the former Bayelsa governor, who has recently focused on international diplomacy and promoting democratic norms. The company has begun engaging with stakeholders.
Sources from the group told the Saturday Tribune that northern leaders supporting Jonathan have come together across political lines and are united in their determination to counter what they see as Tinubu’s mismanagement of the country. .
Additionally, the group is reaching out to like-minded individuals and organizations, including civil society and pro-democracy groups, across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to garner broader support.
Jonathan is considered a strong candidate because he has served as vice president (2007-2010) and president after the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Northern leaders believe that even after nine years in office, he can win broad support from southern states while also enjoying significant goodwill in the north.
The push for Jonathan’s return gained momentum in August 2023, when reports emerged that key political figures were considering persuading him to run in the 2027 election.
This is in line with the position of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, a former minister in Jonathan’s administration, who has publicly announced his intention to resign if Jonathan decides to run.
Mr Mohammed, speaking at an event organized by the Save Africa Initiative, expressed his belief that Jonathan’s experience would make him an ideal candidate.
“Regarding your call for me to come forward, I am still considering my chances as leader of the opposition…I have always said that as long as Jonathan is here, unless Jonathan takes office, I will not be the leader of this country. I have always said that I am not going to come forward. He has decided not to run…He has experience and will do a better job,” Mohamed said.
The push for Jonathan to run is not new. Before the 2023 presidential election, there were rumors that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was considering fielding him as a candidate with the support of several northern governors.
However, both the APC and Jonathan distanced themselves from these allegations, with Jonathan’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, clarifying at the time that the former president had no interest in running for office.
“We wish to categorically state that Dr. Jonathan is not aware of or has not authorized this bid,” Eze said in a statement.
APC officials, including then national committee chair Mai Mala Buni, dismissed the speculation, stressing that Buni’s interactions with Jonathan were simply out of respect for his position as former president.
Buni added: “Our visit to Jonathan was decided because of his status as a former president… which is why some may think there is something behind it.” Ta.
Despite these early denials, the 2027 vision suggests that political interest in Jonathan’s possible return to the presidency remains strong among northern powers.
