Nigeria’s Former President Goodluck Jonathan Urged Not to Contest 2027 Election
Former Nigerian lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has cautioned the country’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan, against contesting the 2027 presidential election. Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District, made this statement as a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’.
According to Sani, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which Jonathan won the election in 2011, is no longer a united front. He advised Jonathan to reconsider his plans, stating that the PDP has undergone significant changes since his presidency. “The PDP he used to know is not the PDP now,” Sani emphasized. “The party in the South-West is endorsing the president, and some members are in a coalition. He shouldn’t waste his time.”
Jonathan, who served as Vice President under late President Umaru Yar’adua from 2007 to 2010, took over the presidency after Yar’adua’s death. He remained in office until 2015, when he lost the election to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Since then, Jonathan’s name has frequently been mentioned in discussions about potential candidates for upcoming elections.
Sani’s comments suggest that the PDP’s current divisions and coalitions might hinder Jonathan’s chances of success. The former lawmaker’s advice comes at a time when Nigeria’s politics is facing significant shifts, with various parties and alliances emerging ahead of the 2027 election.
While Jonathan has not officially announced his intentions, Sani’s warning might serve as a cautionary note for the former President to reassess his options. As Nigeria prepares for its next presidential election, observers will closely watch the developments within the PDP and other parties to gauge the potential outcomes.
