Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said he will not be rushed into deciding whether to contest the 2027 presidential election, insisting that such a move requires broad consultations and careful reflection. He made this known on Thursday while addressing youth groups who visited his Abuja office to urge him to return to the presidential race, noting that seeking Nigeria’s top political office is a serious matter that cannot be approached lightly.
His comments come as the Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to hear a suit today (Friday) challenging his eligibility to run in 2027, with the plaintiff arguing that he has already exhausted the constitutional limit for occupying the office of President. The case, instituted by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, seeks a declaration that Jonathan is not qualified to contest and asks the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising him as a candidate in the next election.
Responding to the calls for his return, Jonathan said he had taken note of the appeal but stressed that any decision would only come after extensive consultations. He described the enthusiasm of the visiting youths as a sign of patriotism, noting that genuine concern for the country is necessary for national progress. Jonathan also charged young Nigerians to continue advocating for peace and electoral credibility, warning that flawed elections discourage capable citizens from participating in governance.
According to him, transparent and peaceful polls remain essential for attracting competent leadership into the political system. The former President further expressed concern over Nigeria’s consistently poor voter turnout, despite its large voting population, describing it as one of the lowest he has observed compared to other African countries and parts of Southeast Asia.
He called on INEC to examine the root causes of voter apathy and urged young people to take a more active role in shaping the nation’s democratic process. Jonathan challenged the youth to obtain their voter cards and participate fully in elections, stressing that meaningful political change can only happen through active civic engagement. He also linked Nigeria’s image abroad partly to leadership shortcomings over the years. While reiterating that no final decision had been made, Jonathan maintained that he would continue consultations before taking any political step ahead of 2027.
Meanwhile, the legal challenge against his potential candidacy is set to proceed at the Federal High Court under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025. Justice Peter Lifu had earlier ordered hearing notices to be served on all defendants after they reportedly failed to respond to the suit.Jonathan is listed as the first defendant, with INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation named as second and third defendants. The plaintiff is asking the court to restrain Jonathan from seeking nomination under any political party and to stop INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a presidential candidate. At the centre of the suit is the argument that Jonathan had already completed the constitutional maximum tenure after finishing the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s term and later winning a full four-year mandate in 2011.
An affidavit filed in support of the case states that Jonathan was sworn in on May 6, 2010, following Yar’Adua’s death a day earlier. The plaintiff contends that a successful 2027 bid would amount to Jonathan taking the presidential oath for a third time, which he argues would violate constitutional provisions. He said the suit was filed to uphold constitutional supremacy and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic framework.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Democratic Congress has dismissed speculation that it has reached any agreement with Jonathan regarding the 2027 election. The party said discussions around its presidential ticket are still ongoing and no decision has been taken on zoning or possible candidates. Speaking in Abuja, the party’s Deputy National Spokesman, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, said the NDC remains committed to consultations and consensus-building as it seeks to strengthen its position ahead of the next general election.
He added that the party is attracting interest from prominent politicians across party lines, including former governors, ex-ministers and both serving and former lawmakers. Abdulsalam dismissed reports suggesting Jonathan was set to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate, describing such claims as speculation without substance. He, however, noted that Jonathan remains free to seek political office on any platform if he chooses, though no formal discussions currently exist between him and the party.
Source: https://punchng.com/
