…Court moves to block eligibility
Fresh indications have emerged that former President Goodluck Jonathan may be preparing for a dramatic return to presidential politics ahead of the 2027 general election, even as a legal battle seeking to stop his ambition gathers momentum at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The growing speculation intensified on Thursday after the Coalition for Jonathan openly declared that the former Nigerian leader would contest the 2027 presidential election, despite ongoing consultations surrounding the move.
Speaking during an interview on television, the Coalition’s convener, Tom Ohikere defended Jonathan’s recent comment that the presidential race “is not a computer game”, insisting the statement had been misunderstood by many Nigerians.
According to Ohikere, the former President merely intended to emphasise the complexity of seeking Nigeria’s highest office, noting that the process involves extensive consultations, negotiations and nationwide political engagements. “Goodluck Jonathan must not be misunderstood by Nigerians when he said it’s not a computer game to run for presidency. What he was trying to say is that it’s not an easy thing for somebody to just come up and say he wants to contest for presidency”, he said.
He added that discussions regarding Jonathan’s possible return had reached an advanced stage and hinted that the former president could publicly disclose his position within days. “He has not yet accepted the proposal from the group seeking his return, but in the fullness of time, possibly within the next one or two days, he is expected to make his position known”, Ohikere stated.
The Coalition leader, who identified himself as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), also openly endorsed Jonathan’s return, arguing that many Nigerians still believe the former president has a role to play in stabilising the country’s political and economic situation.
However, as momentum builds around the speculation, Jonathan is simultaneously facing a constitutional challenge over his eligibility to seek the presidency again. The former President was expected to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday over a suit filed by Abuja-based lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to prevent him from contesting the 2027 election.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, argues that Jonathan has already exhausted the constitutional limit for occupying the office of president after completing the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010 and subsequently winning a fresh four-year mandate in the 2011 election.
The court action comes amid mounting political discussions over Jonathan’s possible comeback, with sources close to the development suggesting that the former president may formally declare his ambition shortly after the court proceedings. Insiders also hinted that Jonathan could unveil the political platform on which he intends to pursue his presidential bid if he eventually decides to join the race.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2011 to 2015 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before losing re-election to former President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently acknowledged growing calls from youths urging him to return to power.
