The African Democratic Congress, (ADC), has intensified moves to draft former President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential contest, even as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the possibility of his comeback as a serious threat to President Bola Tinubu.
Sources close to Jonathan and the ADC told Saturday Tribune that the former president is “seriously considering” returning to the ballot, with influential figures in the party convinced that he could provide the platform a winning chance if he accepts their offer.
Jonathan, however, is said to be torn between his loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which “made him”, and the appeal of the ADC, which has promised him its ticket. His hesitation, the source said, stems from fears that some elements linked to the Villa still hold sway in the PDP and could frustrate his bid.
Another concern reportedly weighing on Jonathan is the prospect of running against Labour Party’s Peter Obi, whom he acknowledges received overwhelming support from the Igbo during his 2015 re-election bid.
“If he chooses our party (ADC), we will zone the presidency to the South. If he does not come to us, we will have no option than to go to the North because politics is about numbers and winning”, a senior ADC figure disclosed.
However, the APC has waved aside the prospect of a Jonathan resurgence. The Lagos State chapter of the party said on Friday that while Jonathan remains a respected elder statesman, he cannot defeat President Tinubu in 2027.
Party spokesman, Seye Oladejo argued that Jonathan’s era in office left behind “severe structural weaknesses, from unchecked corruption to alarming insecurity and economic inertia,” insisting that Nigeria had moved beyond “nostalgia and sentimentality”.
“Good luck alone is not a governance strategy”, Oladejo stated, stressing that any return bid would trigger Constitutional debates and political instability. He also questioned Jonathan’s political consistency, citing his “flirtation with the APC” and absence from PDP’s rebuilding efforts.
The APC maintained that Nigeria’s future lies in “visionary governance rooted in integrity, innovation, and resilience, not recycled leadership”.
While Jonathan’s final decision remains unclear, his next move is expected to shape alignments ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
