Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said he will consult widely before deciding whether to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing the race for Nigeria’s highest office as a serious responsibility that requires careful consideration.
Jonathan made the statement on Thursday while receiving youth groups at his office in Abuja, where they appealed to him to return to the presidential race.
Responding to the calls, the former president said he had heard their requests but would not rush into making a political decision.
“You are asking me to come and contest the next election. The presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you, and I’ll consult widely,” he said.
Jonathan commended the youth for showing concern about the country’s future, noting that patriotism and participation are essential for national development.
“If you have no interest in the country, you will not bother to be here,” he added.
He also urged young Nigerians to continue advocating for peace and credible elections, warning that flawed electoral processes discourage competent people from participating in politics.
“The key thing we need in this country is peace. You should continue to advocate for peaceful and credible elections because when elections are not credible, many good people will not want to get involved in politics,” he said.
The former president expressed concern over Nigeria’s consistently low voter turnout, describing it as one of the poorest he had observed globally despite the country’s large population.
“I’ve observed elections in many African countries and even in Southeast Asia. Nigeria has one of the lowest voter turnouts,” Jonathan said.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to study the issue and identify ways to encourage greater participation in elections.
Jonathan also challenged the youth to become more involved in the democratic process by obtaining their voter cards and participating actively during elections.
“If I ask how many of you have your voter cards now, probably about half of you don’t. Yet you want me to contest. You must also play your part in the electoral process,” he stated.
The former president further lamented the negative image Nigerians face abroad, linking it partly to years of leadership failures in the country.
Despite mounting pressure from supporters, Jonathan maintained that he was still consulting and had not made any final decision regarding the 2027 election.
“I cannot just wake up and say I want to be president again. I will consult, and if there is a need to, I will wait,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to hear a suit seeking to stop Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who argues that Jonathan has already exhausted the constitutional limit for holding the office of president.
The plaintiff asked the court to restrain both Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission from allowing his participation in the election.
According to the suit, Jonathan completed the tenure of late President Umaru Yar'Adua after his death in 2010 and later served another full term following the 2011 election, making him constitutionally ineligible to contest again.
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The suit also argues that if Jonathan contests and wins in 2027, he would be taking the presidential oath for a third time, which the plaintiff says violates the Constitution.
However, the Nigeria Democratic Congress has denied reports that it has entered into any agreement with Jonathan ahead of the 2027 election.
Speaking in Abuja, the party’s Deputy National Spokesman, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, said consultations on the party’s presidential ticket were still ongoing and no decision had been made regarding Jonathan’s possible candidacy.
“There is no concrete move involving former President Jonathan in our party at the moment. Everything being said is speculation,” he said.
Abdulsalam, however, noted that Jonathan remains a respected political figure and is free to contest on any platform if he chooses to do so.
