•Jonathan
Former President Goodluck Jonathan says he is still consulting whether or not to join the 2027 presidential race.
The former president said this when a group of young persons under the auspices of Coalition for Jonathan 2027, visited him in his office in Abuja, today.
Addressing the coalition and the mammoth crowd of supporters, Jonathan stressed the importance of patriotism, peace, and active youth participation in the electoral process, reports Daily Trust.
He noted Nigeria’s persistently low voter turnout despite its huge voting population and urged young people especially to obtain their voter cards and get fully involved in politics.
While acknowledging the loud calls for him to run again, the ex-president stopped short of an immediate declaration but left the door wide open.
“I’ve heard you and I will consult widely,” he said, in what many interpret as his strongest indication yet of possible interest in the 2027 contest.
The Coalition for Jonathan 2027, led by Dr. Tom Ohikere, had earlier presented a strongly worded appeal, recalling their previous visit on April 8, 2026.
“Last month, April 8th 2026, The Coalition For Jonathan 2027 paid a friendly visit to your excellency to urge you to run the 2027 Presidential elections to save Nigeria from the impending collapse. Though we did not meet you in person, we believe that our message was unreservedly passed on to you, as it was to the entire Nigerian people through the media.
“Since then, we have had little information as to whether you have yielded to our clarion call as you have not yet, within our knowledge, picked a nomination for the presidential contest in any registered political party.”
Responding, Jonathan said, “I’ve heard you and I will consult widely. 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.
“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.
“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.”
The former president also challenged the youths to take part in the electoral process by registering and obtaining voter cards instead of limiting their involvement to political discussions.
“If I ask how many of you have your voter’s card now, probably 50 per cent of you don’t have your voter’s card. And you’re asking me to go and contest the election. So you must participate in the electoral process,” he said.
