A fresh political storm is brewing in Nigeria over whether former President Goodluck Jonathan can legally run for president in 2027.
Supporters say Jonathan is the most credible candidate to “rescue” the country, while critics argue that having been sworn in twice already, he is constitutionally barred from seeking the office again.
The Presidency entered the debate this week, with Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, describing those urging Jonathan to run as “cheerleaders” driven by personal, political, religious, and ethnic interests.
“Jonathan will have his day in court,” Onanuga said on Monday. “The jury will decide whether he is constitutionally qualified to contest and be sworn in for a third time.”
However, some of Jonathan’s allies insist he is eligible. On a Daily Trust podcast on Thursday, Ambassador Josephine Washima, Jonathan’s former adviser on job creation, called the clamour for his return “a noble move,” arguing that Nigerians now better appreciate his record in office.
“People have seen through the propaganda against him. They know the truth about what he did and tried to do,” she said, citing a 2018 Federal High Court ruling in Bayelsa which, according to her, cleared Jonathan to run again.
Washima’s stance was echoed by Hon. Yahya Ability, outgoing PDP vice chairman in Niger State, who described Jonathan as “the most acceptable candidate” from the South under the party’s zoning arrangement.
“Jonathan has already ruled for four years, so he has four years left to complete the cycle. It’s only fair,” he said.
Legal experts remain divided. Constitutional lawyer Barrister Yusuf Mutumbi argued that Jonathan’s first swearing-in in 2010 was merely to complete the tenure of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, while his first elected term began in 2011.
“The 1999 Constitution allows a person to be sworn in twice as president. Constitutionally, he can still contest one more time,” Mutumbi said, adding that the 2018 constitutional amendment barring anyone sworn in twice from contesting again is not retroactive.
But another lawyer, Barrister Abba Hikima, told BBC Hausa that some legal minds believe Section 137(3) could still be applied, depending on how the Supreme Court interprets it.
Beyond the legal wrangling, some analysts question whether Jonathan still has the political structure to mount a successful campaign.
“Jonathan’s return would reshape the 2027 race because many Nigerians still admire him,” said David West, a political analyst in Bayelsa. “But the PDP is weak, and politics is now heavily monetised. If he contests and loses, it could damage his legacy. He’s better off remaining the respected diplomat he is today.”
Calls for Jonathan’s return are growing, particularly from Northern politicians seeking a strong opposition candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Prominent PDP leaders like Sule Lamido, Bala Mohammed, and Professor Jerry Gana have openly backed his return, with Gana declaring that Jonathan would defeat the ruling APC.
Last week, Jonathan visited ADC National Chairman and former Senate President David Mark at his Abuja residence — a meeting widely seen as part of ongoing 2027 calculations.
Although Jonathan has not announced his candidacy, his perceived eligibility for just one more term makes him an attractive option for those seeking to balance the power rotation between North and South.
