A relative of former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has asserted that he is qualified to run in the 2027 general elections. Azibaola Robert, Jonathan’s cousin, made the claim as support for the former president grows among those who see him as a potential opposition candidate against incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Jonathan served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015. He first assumed office as acting president after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later won the 2011 presidential election on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket. Today, the opposition is split between the PDP and the Labour Party, with the political plans of key figures such as Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar still uncertain. Some observers argue that Jonathan’s national appeal and experience make him the strongest candidate to unite the opposition and challenge the APC.
Nevertheless, his possible candidacy has sparked debate. Critics contend that he is constitutionally ineligible to run. Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, along with human‑rights lawyer Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, have voiced concerns about Jonathan’s eligibility. In response, Azibaola Robert emphasized that Jonathan is “100 % constitutionally and legally qualified” to contest the elections should he choose to do so. As a lawyer and former pro‑democracy activist, Robert noted that Jonathan has access to experienced legal advisers and that any decision to run would not be driven by eligibility issues.
Robert’s statement seeks to clarify Jonathan’s standing, citing existing court judgments—including one involving the APC—that support his eligibility. The development comes as Nigeria’s political landscape continues to evolve with the 2027 elections approaching. Discussions around Jonathan’s potential candidacy highlight the complexities of Nigerian politics and the ongoing debates about the country’s leadership. As events unfold, it remains to be seen whether Jonathan will heed calls to contest the elections and how his participation might reshape the political arena.
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