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.
new Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs).
The Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the appointments of new Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs).
The Governor also approved the appointment of Alhaji Moshood Kewuyemi as the Chief Imam of the Government House Mosque.
The new SSAs include:
Ms. Folashade Ogunoye, SSA Gender
Alhaji Aminu Saidi Tunde, SSA Islamic Religion Affairs
Rev. Tunde Ogunsuyi, SSA Christian Religion Affairs
Kemisola Obamoyegun, SSA Housing
Dr. Oluwatobi Aruwajoye, SSA Primary Health
Alhaja Mohammed Sikirat Idera, SSA Muslim Women Affairs
Mrs Ehuwa Victoria Olufunke, SSA Christian Women Affairs
Alhaja Fauzart Gidado, SSA Women Mobilisation (Central).
And, others.
The appointments take immediate effect.
The Labour Party’s youth leadership has initiated plans to engage the All Progressives Congress (APC) and organisations aligned with President Bola Tinubu over the possibility of cooperation before the 2027 presidential election.
The move followed a virtual meeting attended by the party’s National Youth Leader, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, five zonal youth leaders and representatives of the youth leadership from 32 states.
A statement issued by Edo State Labour Party Youth Leader Ken Omusi and shared on the party’s official X account on Saturday said the meeting took place on Friday. Discussions focused on the party’s political future, its unresolved internal disputes and the need to strengthen youth involvement ahead of the 2027 polls.
The participants reportedly authorised Ahanotu to open discussions with the APC, the Renewed Hope Movement, the City Boy Movement and Tinubu Support Groups regarding possible cooperation ahead of the election.
The statement said several youth leaders complained that they had received little recognition, engagement or support during and after the 2023 general elections, despite campaigning for a presidential candidate they believed lacked the capacity to consolidate the party’s gains.
They said they were seeking a political arrangement and leadership framework capable of expanding youth participation, leadership opportunities, economic empowerment, and representation in national decision-making.
Following the deliberations, the youth leaders directed Ahanotu to immediately begin discussions with relevant representatives of the APC, the Renewed Hope Movement, the City Boy Movement and Tinubu Support Groups to assess the prospects of an alliance or other form of collaboration before 2027.
However, the statement clarified that the initiative had not produced any binding agreement. Any possible partnership would be considered after the consultations are completed.
The group also suggested holding an in-person meeting in Abuja to assess the discussions and decide on its subsequent political course.
The meeting examined several aspects of the Tinubu administration, including human capital development, youth programmes, economic policy, infrastructure, healthcare, education, security, agriculture and workers’ welfare. Participants reportedly offered varying assessments of the government’s policies and their effects.Bola Tinubu news
The City Boy Movement, which was listed among the groups to be contacted, presents itself as a youth-oriented organisation backing Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the APC. According to its official platform, the group concentrates on grassroots mobilisation, youth participation and support for the administration.
The development also unfolds amid Labour Party factional disputes. Ahanotu has been linked to the Julius Abure-led faction, which announced him as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election in May 2026.
In the 2023 presidential election, the Labour Party emerged as a significant opposition force. Its candidate, Peter Obi, placed third with 6,101,533 votes, based on results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The party also captured the Abia governorship and won several National Assembly seats in the same election.
Opposition stakeholders under the G100 alliance are considering cooperation in the event of a run-off in the 2027 presidential election as efforts to persuade former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi to support a single opposition candidate continue.
Sources within the alliance said consultations with the two presidential candidates were ongoing, but the group was examining alternative forms of cooperation should efforts to produce a consensus candidate fail.
Atiku is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Peter Obi is flying the flag of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
THE G100 had proposed a common presidential platform as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation among opposition parties ahead of the election.
However, sources said neither Atiku nor Obi had, so far, accepted the single-candidate proposal, prompting discussions about how opposition parties could work together under other possible electoral scenarios.
“Both have not shown any kind of inclination or acceptance of the single candidacy at this time. But of course, there are other plans.
“There are other reasons why these G100 opposition leaders need to continue to engage before, during and even after the election.
“The plan may include a possible run-off or other issues that may come up. So, these are the issues. These are why these meetings were convened: to bring Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi back to the table and get their commitment to the ongoing discussion,” a source told The PUNCH.
Another source said the possibility of a second round was being considered as part of the alliance’s contingency planning, adding that Obi and Atiku seems not interested in stepping down.
He said, “The two major opposition leaders, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, seem to be less concerned about the single-candidacy plan of the G100.
“But they still need one another because the G100, from the statistics we are having and the research conducted, there may not be a straight-up easy winner. A winner may not emerge in the first round.
“So, part of the plan now is that if we cannot achieve a single candidate for the opposition leaders, in the case of a run-off, this ongoing discussion will make it quite easy for the opposition parties to queue behind one candidate and work together.”
Section 134 of the Nigerian Constitution states that where no candidate meets the requirements for election as President, a second election may be held between candidates selected in accordance with the constitutional provisions. INEC’s regulations provide for a run-off where no candidate meets the required vote and geographical-spread thresholds.
Confirming that the faction remained committed to the G100 initiative, the National Publicity Secretary of the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP faction, Ini Ememobong, said, “The PDP, led by Tanimu Turaki, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, remains committed to the G100 activities.
“We have resolved that the only way to rescue Nigeria from the maladministration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC is for the opposition parties to come together. So, we are committed to that project, and we are behind it.”
The APM National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, also confirmed the party’s continued participation in the G100 discussions.
However, he said the party’s presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, remained in the race for the presidency.
“Our party was there from the beginning. The conversation is ongoing, and as time goes on, I believe the other stakeholders will make some of the decisions and positions public,” he said.
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