I will consult widely, Jonathan hints at 2027 presidential bid

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has hinted at the possibility of contesting the 2027 presidential election, saying he would consult widely before taking a decision.

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Mr Jonathan made the remark on Thursday when a group of youths under the aegis of the Coalition for Jonathan 2027 visited his office in Abuja to urge him to join the presidential race.

Leader of the coalition, Tom Okhire, said the group had earlier appealed to the former president to contest the 2027 election in order to “save Nigeria from impending collapse.”

“Last month, on April 8, 2026, the Coalition for Jonathan 2027 paid a friendly visit to Your Excellency to urge you to contest the 2027 presidential election to save Nigeria from the impending collapse,” he said.

“Though we did not meet you in person, we believe our message was conveyed to you and to Nigerians through the media.

“Since then, we have received little information on whether you have accepted our call, as, to the best of our knowledge, you have not picked a nomination form from any registered political party.”

Responding, Mr Jonathan said contesting for the presidency was not a decision to be taken lightly.

“I’ve heard you, and I will consult widely. You are asking me to come and contest the next election. The presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you, and I will consult widely,” he said.

He stressed the need for peace and credible elections in the country, noting that many competent Nigerians avoid politics because of concerns over the electoral process.

“The key thing we need in this country is peace. You should continue to advocate for peaceful and credible elections because if we don’t have peaceful and credible elections, many good citizens will not want to get involved in politics,” he added.

Mr Jonathan also urged young Nigerians to actively participate in the electoral process by registering and obtaining their voter cards.

“If I ask how many of you have voter cards now, probably 50 per cent of you don’t have one, yet you are asking me to contest the election. You must participate in the electoral process,” he said.