In a matter of months, it will become clear, if Dr Goodluck Jonathan will contest the 2027 presidential election, even though a vast majority of Nigerians have voted in the affirmative, in an ongoing TNN newspaper online opinion poll.
Just as the voters have opined that Jonathan should contest, preliminary consultations are also ongoing, especially as it has become clear that the former president does not face any legal impediment, since a court of competent jurisdiction had ruled that he was qualified to run.
Major issues such as the political party under which he may run, as well the choice of his running mate have been on the table in the last few days. TNN learnt that key northern leaders have been making political calculations with a view to resolving the question of political party.
One source said on Friday that the initial consideration of the collapse of the PDP and ADC structures for Jonathan was gaining traction with each passing day.
Also, the issue of running mate is said to be another subject that the stakeholders were concluding on. A source said as soon as the twin issues of political party and that of running mate were ascertained, Jonathan would speak up.
Sources said the stakeholders were considering either Rabiu Musa Kwankanso or Sule Lamido, two of them former governors of Kano and Jigawa states respectively.
Meanwhile, there were emerging signals that sitting governors from the south-south were being consulted and their inputs sought on the issue of Jonathan’s return. While many of them are said to be positively disposed to it, a few of them were said to be undecided.
A prominent retired military General from the north, believed to be among those who have been pushing for Jonathan’s return, is said to be engaging the governors as well as other critical players from the region.
