Politics
2027: PDP To Challenge Tinubu With Jonathan-Kwankwaso Ticket – Party Leader Reveals
Discussions are ongoing regarding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) potentially fielding former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as their candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Since his defeat in the 2015 election, Jonathan has largely distanced himself from active politics. However, the PDP is currently engaging with him to consider a return as the party’s presidential candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming general election.
Multiple reports have also confirmed that party leaders are in discussions with former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to woo him back to the PDP and possibly run alongside Jonathan.
BBC quoted sources as saying, both officially and through the efforts of some of its leaders — including governors — moves were being made to persuade them to accept the offer.
Analysts believe this move may also be intended to weaken potential alliances among other political parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Malam Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, who was part of the meeting, told BBC that the former President has shown interest in honoring the party’s request.
According to Abdullahi, the push to draft Jonathan back into the race is in response to a groundswell of public sentiment calling for his return.
He said Nigerians are beginning to acknowledge the value of Jonathan’s leadership and are now seeking his return to correct the perceived mistakes of the past.
“When he (Jonathan) was in power, people believed in his capacity and leadership style. Since he remains a member of the PDP, we believe he should contest again. Nigerians have realised that what happened in the past wasn’t entirely his fault. They are now seeking his forgiveness and hoping he will return to lead them. He is a compassionate man,” Abdullahi told the BBC.
“Since we are loyal to the Nigerian people and want to act in their best interest, we have listened to their calls and are taking steps in that direction.”
Sources revealed to the BBC that some senior PDP leaders met with Jonathan in the Gambia last week in a fresh effort to convince him to run in the 2027 presidential election against President Tinubu.
However, he said while the former President has shown interest in their proposal but has set s certain conditions for his return.
One of the conditions Jonathan raised, according to Abdullahi, was clarification on vhether he would be required to compete in party primaries or if he would be presented as a consensus candidate.
He is reportedly consulting with close allies before making a final decision.
Since the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, many Nigerians, articularly from the North, have been calling for Jonathan’s return, citing h7e hardship faced under subsequent governments.
Many view Jonathan as a more sympathetic and measured leader compared to those who followed him.
Analysts suggest the PDP’s interest in Jonathan is partly influenced by zoning considerations, as tne presidency is expected to return to the South based on political consensus.
Professor Abubakar Kari of the University of Abuja believes that if Jonathan accepts to run and is nominated without opposition- paired with a running mate from Northern Nigeria it would significantly reshape the 2027 political landscape.
If Goodluck contests, M will breathe new life into the PDP, which has been largely dormant. His candidacy could disrupt current coalition plans, particularly those who see themselves as the driving force of the opposition,” Professor Kari noted.
“His calm demeanor and his decision *O concede defeat and peacefully hand over power in 2015 have further enhanced his public image.”
He further added that another factor working in Jonathan’s favor is that he is constitutionally limited to serving only one term.
This could make his candidacy more appealing, especially to the North, with the expectation that power would return to the region after his tenure.
Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has withdrawn his support for the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, citing the continued marginalisation of the South-East geopolitical zone.
Okonkwo’s decision followed the official announcement by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, confirming former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, from the South-South, as Atiku’s vice-presidential running mate for the 2027 general election.
Reacting to the development, Okonkwo stated that any arrangement excluding the South-East from the top two executive positions in 2027 perpetuates unpardonable injustice against his people.
He emphasized that the region has not produced a President or Vice President since 1999 and noted that the ADC’s founder, Ralphs Nwosu, did not sacrifice leadership of the party in 2025 to enable the marginalisation of his own zone.
Okonkwo maintained that he would not campaign for any presidential ticket that fails to include a person of South-East origin as President or Vice President in 2027.
Okonkwo shared his decision in a statement released on his official X handle:
I heard from the social media that ADC has picked its vice presidential candidate from the South-South. If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East.
This Geo-Political Zone has neither produced a President or Vice President since 1999. To deny the South-East the opportunity to produce the President or Vice President in ADC in 2027 will amount to perpetuating the marginalisation.
The ADC was founded by Ralphs Nwosu from the South-East in 2005. He made the sacrifice to give up the party in 2025 for the coalition to usher in a better Nigeria. He couldn’t have made that sacrifice to marginalise his own people.
I did not join the coalition to assist in marginalisation of my own people further. I am of the opinion that if we made a sacrifice to give up the National Chairman and the President, it will amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the Vice President in 2027.
I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, Geo-Political Zone, or person will be marginalised.
The only favour I asked Atiku Abubakar, who openly declared that he is the pathway to the presidency of the South-East, is to show it by choosing someone from the South-East to be his Vice.
If it is confirmed that he has chosen a candidate from the South-South, I wish him well. I am not favourably disposed to campaigning for any presidential ticket that does not have a person of South-East origin as President or Vice in 2027.
Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has withdrawn his support for the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, citing the continued marginalization of the South-East geopolitical zone.
Okonkwo’s decision followed the official announcement by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, confirming former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, from the South-South, as Atiku’s vice-presidential running mate for the 2027 general election.
Reacting to the development, Okonkwo stated that any arrangement excluding the South-East from the top two executive positions in 2027 perpetuates unpardonable injustice against his people.
He emphasized that the region has not produced a President or Vice President since 1999 and noted that the ADC’s founder, Ralphs Nwosu, did not sacrifice leadership of the party in 2025 to enable the marginalisation of his own zone.
Okonkwo maintained that he would not campaign for any presidential ticket that fails to include a person of South-East origin as President or Vice President in 2027.
Okonkwo shared his decision in a statement released on his official X handle:
I heard from the social media that ADC has picked its vice presidential candidate from the South-South. If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East.
This Geo-Political Zone has neither produced a President or Vice President since 1999. To deny the South-East the opportunity to produce the President or Vice President in ADC in 2027 will amount to perpetuating the marginalisation.
The ADC was founded by Ralphs Nwosu from the South-East in 2005. He made the sacrifice to give up the party in 2025 for the coalition to usher in a better Nigeria. He couldn’t have made that sacrifice to marginalise his own people.
I did not join the coalition to assist in marginalisation of my own people further. I am of the opinion that if we made a sacrifice to give up the National Chairman and the President, it will amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the Vice President in 2027.
I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, Geo-Political Zone, or person will be marginalised.
The only favour I asked Atiku Abubakar, who openly declared that he is the pathway to the presidency of the South-East, is to show it by choosing someone from the South-East to be his Vice.
If it is confirmed that he has chosen a candidate from the South-South, I wish him well. I am not favourably disposed to campaigning for any presidential ticket that does not have a person of South-East origin as President or Vice in 2027.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is coasting to victory in the chairmanship and councillorship elections in Adamawa conducted on Saturday.
The Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC) will announce the official results later today.
According to Daily Trust, Emmanuel Abba, commissioner of logistics and field operations of the commission, told journalists on Sunday that collation was ongoing.
Abba said election results of 20 LGAs out of 21 have been collated, adding that Numan LGA is pending.
The commissioner said ADSIEC will officially announce the results of the 21 LGAs sooner.
He implored residents to be patient to enable completion of the entire electoral process.
According to Daily Trust, PDP has taken an early lead from results of the 20 local government areas announced at ward and LGA levels thus far.
FINTIRI ABSENT DURING LGA POLL
The Adamawa LGA election recorded low voter turnout as many polling units were without voters.
According to Punch, Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of the state, was not in Adamawa during the election.
Leader Leneke, Adamawa commissioner of information, told the publication that the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not campaign as vigorously as the PDP.
Leneke said people in the rural areas believe that LGA elections are for politicians in the ruling party.
“The PDP governorship candidate and the chairmanship candidates were going out every day for campaigns, but the ruling APC was not doing the same. So, if the PDP wins the election today, it is due to its hard work,” he said.
“There is voter apathy in today’s election because people in rural areas believe that local government elections are meant for the ruling party in government, so they see no reason to come out and vote.”
In February, Fintiri formally joined the APC from the PDP.
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