Abuja, Nigeria – In a dramatic turn of events, the Presidency has extended a warm welcome to former President Goodluck Jonathan, inviting him to join the 2027 presidential race. However, this olive branch comes with a caveat, as the Presidency’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, took a subtle swipe at Jonathan’s past governance record, describing it as “dismal.”
According to Onanuga, while Jonathan has the inalienable right to contest the presidency again, Nigerians will not easily forget his track record in office. “They broke the economy before, but millions of Nigerians who will not easily forget the recent past will not allow them to return and run it down again,” Onanuga stated.
This development follows speculations that Jonathan might stage a comeback in the 2027 presidential election, with some PDP chieftains, including Professor Jerry Gana, throwing their weight behind him. Gana even went as far as to claim that Jonathan would defeat President Bola Tinubu to reclaim power after 12 years.
Reacting to Gana’s comments, Onanuga said, “President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he wishes. It is his inalienable right to contest the presidency again. President Tinubu will wholeheartedly welcome him if he decides to enter the race.” However, he added that Jonathan will have his “date in the court of the land,” and the jury will determine whether he satisfies the constitutional requirements and is eligible to contest the presidency.
Onanuga’s statement seemed to be a veiled attack on Jonathan’s economic record, highlighting the country’s economic downturn during his tenure. “The nation’s economic downturn, which President Tinubu is working very hard to overcome, actually began under President Jonathan,” he said.
The Presidency’s statement also drew a comparison between Jonathan’s economic record and President Tinubu’s recent economic strides. According to Onanuga, President Tinubu has taken bold decisions to reset the economy, removing the ruinous fuel subsidy and abolishing multiple exchange rates. As a result, the economy has started to stabilize, with a 4.23% GDP growth in Q2 2025, outpacing the IMF’s 3.4% projection.
Inflation has also decreased to 20.12% in August 2025, the lowest level in three years, while foreign reserves stand at $42.03 billion. The Naira has virtually stabilized, and investor confidence has been restored.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has raised questions about Jonathan’s eligibility to contest the presidency in 2027. According to Odinkalu, Jonathan’s bid would collapse under judicial scrutiny due to the constitutional limit on the number of times a person can be sworn in as president ¹ ².
As the 2027 presidential election approaches, all eyes are on former President Jonathan and his potential comeback bid. While the Presidency has welcomed him to the race, Nigerians will be closely watching his campaign, particularly in light of his past governance record. Will Jonathan be able to redeem himself and secure the presidency once again? Only time will tell.
