It is becoming clearer, that a former Nigerian president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan will present himself for the presidential election in 2027, against the sitting president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, even though he is yet to make any public statement on the issue.
TNN learnt that while the former president is still making consultations across the world, pressure has continued to mount within and outside Nigeria, for him to run.
Last weekend, during the PDP convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, scores of pro-Jonathan campaigners were seen with flags and posters bearing his image and messages urging him to throw his hat in the ring, as he had the support of most Nigerians.
TNN was informed on Sunday, that with the emergence of Kabiru Turaki as the new national chairman of the PDP, the chances of Jonathan picking the party’s presidential ticket unopposed was getting brighter.
Turaki was Jonathan’s minister in charge of special duties and intergovernmental affairs. He is a known loyalist of the former president and it is believed that the power brokers decided to present him for the position as part of strategies for his seamless emergence as the party’s candidate.
Apart from the PDP, it is learnt that the ADC is also working towards the realisation of the project. A source who confided in TNN on Sunday said key loyalists of Jonathan were working hard to ensure that he gets the ticket of the party.
The source said Jonathan would either run under a joint APC and PDP ticket or would fly the flag of one of them, while another source said there were plans to mobilise other political parties to fight the APC, whose candidate is already speculated to be the sitting president.
When asked how Jonathan would navigate the political waters in the south, particularly in his home state that is already in the hands of the APC, the source said “politics is a very dynamic game. Just watch and see what will happen.
“The former president only needs to make the announcement of his intention to run and thereafter, you will see how the entire region and other parts of the country will flow into his aspiration. Even though his state is now controlled by the APC, you will see genuine and organic followership when that time comes.
“Jonathan is the man to beat. It is not for nothing that the international community is interested in his return. It is not for fun that reputable world leaders are urging and encouraging him to return. The world is interested in Jonathan’s return to power.”
TNN learnt that in the coming days, Nigerians will see and hear more about the Jonathan re-election project. A federal high court had already ruled that the former president was legible and fit to contest the 2027 election.
TNN observed that the crisis in the PDP may affect the script for Jonathan’s ability to fly the PDP flag, as the faction led by the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, is fighting hard to make sure the party does not have a life.
The INEC was not at the Ibadan convention as required by law. This was in line with the order of a federal high court, although a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Ibadan had given a contrary order. The fear is that whatever happened in Ibadan may be a nullity.
But the source told TNN that there is nothing to worry about. “We are playing politics. In a matter of time, you will see that all the boxes will be ticked and Jonathan will emerge. That is the most important thing. He will run and he will win.”
