The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has extended an invitation to former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election on its platform.
Ibrahim Abdullahi, the PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, said the party has been eagerly awaiting the former president’s return for a second term.
He said that Jonathan’s return would be a welcome development, considering the party’s significant role in shaping Nigeria’s leadership.
“We’ve said this about Jonathan and our governors. Even the FCT minister, is arguably the best performer in his role and he is a product of PDP. El-Rufai, Okonjo-Iweala, Dora Akunyili, Obi Ezekwesili, Akinwunmi Adesina, Amina Mohammed… these are the pride of this country, and they are all products of the PDP,” he said.
Abdullahi warned Jonathan against the “hypocrisy of the All Progressives Congress” and advised him to be cautious of recent praise from individuals and groups who previously criticized him. He urged Jonathan to remember how he was derided and reduced to nothing by these same people and not be swayed by their sudden affection.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that there have been recent sightings of Jonathan’s presidential posters for the 2027 elections in Kano, and these have sparked speculations about his possible return to the political arena. The posters, masterminded by ‘Team New Nigeria’, featured messages like, ‘Team New Nigeria 2027; The Goodluck Nigeria Needs—Dr Goodluck Jonathan.’
Speculation about Jonathan’s potential interest in the 2027 presidential race intensified following reports that prominent political figures from northern Nigeria had initiated efforts to draft him into the contest.
The push is reportedly based on the belief that Jonathan remains eligible to serve another four-year term, having previously held the presidency from 2011 to 2015. Also, there is growing discontent with the leadership of Bola Tinubu by some Northern elders.
The development has intensified conversations about other opposition figures like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the future of the PDP will be determined at its upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, scheduled for February 2025. The meeting will address pressing concerns, including leadership and litigation issues.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, has directed the National Working Committee to ensure the NEC meeting is held by February.
Sources have revealed that logistical challenges and differing agendas have made convening the meeting difficult.
One source said, “The NEC, like all previous meetings, is where crucial decisions are made. The proposed February NEC meeting will decide the party’s future, whether it happens or not.”
“The sooner the meeting is held, the more carefully the issues must be addressed, as every decision made at the NEC carries significant consequences,” the source added.
Meanwhile, Diran Odeyemi, the immediate past Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, attributed the delay to deeper reasons within the party. He suggested that aligning with Damagum and his supporters would foster peace, warning that rushing into the NEC meeting could lead to more crises.
“Damagum, being a shrewd politician, is not ready to leave his post,” he stated.
He added, “If you cannot manage yourselves as a political party, how can you manage the country?”
Originally the meeting was set for August 15. The 99th NEC meeting was first postponed to October 24, 2024, then rescheduled to November 28, 2024. It was thereafter postponed indefinitely.