Politics

Fresh Moves To Drag Jonathan Into 2027 Presidential Race Revealed

Published

1 year ago

July 7, 2025

Fresh attempts have been launched by a coalition of forces across the country to drag former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to run in 2027.

This is coming amid the frenzied efforts by various power blocs to reposition their camps in good stead ahead of the general election.

The mobilization drive, which is in an embryonic stage, is principally under the aegis of Jonathan Support Group.

The rising wave of realignment by politicians and groups took a dizzying height following last Wednesday adoption of the African Democratic congress (ADC) by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a preferred choice to field candidates for the next general election.

Jonathan lost his second-term bid to former President Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.

Amidst the debate on whether Jonathan was eligible to run again or not, having taken the oath of office twice as president, the Federal High Court in Bayelsa had ruled in 2022 that he could still contest the presidential election.

The presiding judge, Justice Dashen, who gave the judgement, held that the former President’s right could not be stopped by any retroactive law.

He recalled that the 2007 election produced the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as president and not Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; stressing that Section 137 could not have a retroactive effect to stop him from contesting for presidency.

Justice Dashen ruled that there was no presidential election conducted in the country in 2010 and that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan could not be deemed to have been sworn into the office of the president that year.

The belief by the pro-Jonathan movement is that the former president, who conceded defeat to former President Muhammadu Buhari 10 years ago, still has the pedigree and goodwill among the political elite and grassroots, who they noted placed premium on national stability while in office.

Many other pressure groups are also said to be involved in intense meetings and consultations, as well as awareness tours to feel public in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Top on their lobbying strategy is what they described as Jonathan’s record as a unifier and a “leader who sacrificed personal ambition to protect Nigeria’s democracy.”

The director general of the group, Mr Abdullahi Dambatta, who shed light on the campaign in spite of the fact that the general election is about two years ahead expressed the hope that the former president would hearken to the call for him to run again.

He said: “We urge former President Goodluck Jonathan to consider the clarion call by Nigerians and step forward as a candidate who can unite our country and lead us towards a brighter future.

“As the nation prepares for the 2027 elections, the Jonathan Support Group believes that now is the time for all stakeholders to come together and support a candidate who can genuinely represent the interests of all Nigerians

“We urge former President Goodluck Jonathan to consider this call and to step forward as a candidate who can unite our country and lead us towards a brighter future.

“This appeal comes in light of the numerous challenges currently facing Nigeria, including economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, and rampant banditry.”

Dambatta said there is an urgent need for a leader who embodies integrity, inclusivity, and a commitment to national unity. Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it.

“Nigeria is currently at crossroads. We are grappling with significant issues that threaten our stability and progress. We need a leader who can bring all Nigerians together, regardless of their background.

“Former President Jonathan during his tenure demonstrated a commitment to democratic values and governance that prioritised the welfare of all citizens.

“Jonathan Support Group believes that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has the vision and experience necessary to lead Nigeria.

“His leadership style is one that fosters inclusivity and economic advancement, which is exactly what our nation needs at this critical juncture.

“Under Jonathan’s leadership, we can work towards restoring Nigeria’s lost glory on the international stage and within our own borders,” he stated.

Other figures reportedly active in the coalition of support groups include some former Northern governors who had previously supported him in 2011, a handful of serving National Assembly members, and youth activists who argue that a return to Jonathan could stabilise national politics at a time of deepening economic hardship and rising insecurity.

Supporters of the movement argue that the former president’s return could help “heal the nation’s divisions,” pointing to increasing ethnic and religious polarization, economic hardship, and widespread disillusionment with the current political class.

“There is also a pragmatic angle: some Northern politicians reportedly see Jonathan as a bridge figure that, having served only one full term, remains eligible for a single term in office. This, in theory, would create space for a North-South power rotation in 2031 without a prolonged stay in power by the South,” a political analyst, Alhaji Aliyu Dandume stated.

The move could reshape existing alignments. Jonathan is formally a member of the PDP, but there have been persistent rumours about a new coalition party.

“Our expectation is that the Coalition adopts Jonathan as its candidate. He stands a better chance to defeat the incumbent President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the polls than any of the aspirants due to his acceptability by Nigerians irrespective of region, tribe or religion”, another analyst, Mahmood Shema, said.

He explained that for Northern politicians hoping to preserve the long-standing informal zoning arrangement—where power rotates between North and South—this scenario could be appealing: Jonathan’s presidency would, by definition, end in 2031, allowing the North to legitimately reclaim the slot thereafter.

Supporters also underscored Jonathan’s perceived inclusive governance style, relative peace during much of his tenure (excluding the Boko Haram insurgency’s peak years), and his statesmanlike decision to accept defeat in 2015, which many credit with preventing large-scale post-election violence.

While Jonathan himself remains silent, the Northern Youth Alliance for Jonathan has launched a series of town hall meetings in states such as Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina, aimed at selling the idea to the next generation of voters.

Similarly, the Jonathan Solidarity Forum is also believed to have been involved in engagement with some southern political actors to reassure them that the push is not an attempt by the North to dominate but rather a pragmatic move to restore political equilibrium.

Politics

2027 Election: Top APC Governor Finally Speaks on Joining ADC

Published

21 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

The Daily Voice

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has dismissed reports linking him with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that he remains fully committed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.APC party information

The governor reacted after photographs of him with the ADC’s Ondo Central Senatorial candidate, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, surfaced online following a church service at the Government House Chapel in Akure on Sunday.

The images, which also showed some of Akinyelure’s supporters and other personalities from Idanre, led to speculation that Aiyedatiwa was building political ties with members of the opposition.

Responding through a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor described the reports as “false, misleading and deliberately mischievous,” accusing those behind them of trying to create division within the APC.

Aiyedatiwa explained that the Government House Chapel, like the mosque within the Government House complex, is a public place of worship open to everyone, regardless of political affiliation.

“The Government House Chapel is a public place of worship. Just like the Mosque within the Government House premises, the Chapel is open to all citizens, religious leaders and public officials who wish to worship. It is not an APC-only facility. To suggest otherwise is to misunderstand the purpose of Government House as the house of all the people of Ondo State,” the statement said.

The governor clarified that Senator Ayo Akinyelure attended the church service to worship and also used the opportunity to appreciate him for sending representatives and a goodwill message to his 70th birthday celebration held last week.

According to the statement, “Senator Akinyelure was at the Government House Chapel to worship and to personally thank His Excellency for sending representation and a goodwill message on the occasion of his 70th birthday last week. This is a normal act of courtesy, decorum and respect that transcends party lines.”

The statement further pointed out that Senator Ayo Akinyelure is the younger brother of Chief Pius Akinyelure, a prominent APC leader, ally of President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council in Ondo State.APC party information

Rejecting claims of any political understanding with the ADC, the governor stressed that the meeting should not be interpreted as an alliance with the opposition.

“Governor Aiyedatiwa remains committed to the APC and all its candidates. The Governor will work with all party structures to ensure that APC wins all elections in Ondo State,” the statement added.

The governor urged APC members and residents of the state to ignore what he described as attempts by political opponents to sow confusion within the ruling party, maintaining that his administration remains focused on governance rather than political distractions.Leadership development programs

“The Governor remains focused. The APC remains strong. And Ondo State will continue to progress,” the statement concluded.

The clarification comes amid political tension within the Ondo APC following the party’s recent primary elections and growing speculation over the rivalry between Governor Aiyedatiwa and Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

It is reported that the outcome of the recent primary election favoured allies of Tunji-Ojo over Aiyedatiwa’s loyalists, fuelling speculation of growing political tension between the two leaders

Politics

APC Appoints Omisore, 275 Others to Campaign Council

Published

9 hours ago

July 27, 2026

The Daily Voice

The All Progressives Congress has drafted former Osun State Deputy Governor, Iyiola Omisore and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara into its 276-member National Campaign Council for the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.

The campaign council, unveiled on Sunday by the APC National Working Committee, will be chaired by Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, and will be inaugurated on Tuesday, July 28, at the Transcorp Hilton Event Centre, Abuja.

The announcement was contained in a notice signed by the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru.

The inclusion of Omisore is expected to put to rest recent speculation about his commitment to the APC following the defection of some of his close political associates to the Accord to support Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election bid.

The rumours gathered momentum after Omisore was absent from the APC governorship campaign flag-off in Ile-Ife, fuelling claims that he had distanced himself from the party.

According to the notice, Uzodimma will serve as chairman of the council, while Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas will serve as co-chairmen.

The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari, was named deputy chairman, while Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin will serve as secretary.

The statement read, “Uzodimma will chair the National Campaign Council, while Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, will serve as co-chairmen.

“Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari, will serve as Deputy Chairman, while the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, will function as Secretary of the council.

“The council comprises governors, members of the National Working Committee, principal officers of the National Assembly, ministers, federal and state lawmakers, party leaders and other stakeholders drawn from across the country.”

Basiru added that specialised sub-committees had also been constituted to coordinate the campaign.

They include Election Planning and Management, Finance and Resource Mobilisation, Contact, Grassroots Engagement and Mobilisation, Logistics and Campaign Management, Monitoring and Compliance, Protocol, Media and Publicity, Security, Youth Mobilisation, Special Interest (Persons with Disabilities) Mobilisation, Women’s Mobilisation and Secretariat.

“The inauguration of the National Campaign Council and its Sub-Committees is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Event Centre, Abuja at 12:00 Noon,” the notice added.

The APC is fielding former Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, who emerged as the party’s consensus governorship candidate after consultations among key stakeholders.

He will face the incumbent governor, Adeleke, in what is expected to be a keenly contested election widely seen as a political test ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Reacting to Omisore’s appointment, the Chairman of the Omisore Campaign Organisation, Mr Ajibola Famurewa, dismissed suggestions that the former deputy governor was drifting away from the APC, saying he would accept the assignment as a loyal party member.

“I have not spoken with Otunba Omisore, and I have not seen the list too. If Otunba Omisore’s name is there, as a former deputy governor, senator, and national secretary of the party, it is the tradition to list people of that calibre in the campaign council, especially from Osun State.

“That is the tradition of the party. On whether he will accept or not, as a party man, he will. It depends on the assignment given to him within the council.

“You talked about him not attending the flag-off; was he properly informed? He was not properly invited to that flag-off,” Famurewa said.

He maintained that Omisore and several other APC leaders who missed the campaign flag-off received their invitations barely 24 hours before the event, making it difficult for them to attend.

News

Accord Party Rejects Gov Adeleke, Adopts APC Candidate For Osun Elections

Published

10 hours ago

July 27, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

‎The factional National Chairman of the Accord Party, Prof. Chris Imumolen, has reaffirmed the party’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration and endorsed his re-election bid, while insisting that the decision does not amount to a merger with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

‎‎Imumolen also announced that Accord had resolved to support the APC governorship candidate in Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.

‎‎The Accord chairman said the party’s support for Tinubu was based on its assessment of the administration’s economic reforms and efforts towards national development.

‎‎“Our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is based on our conviction that Nigeria’s progress requires continuity in policies that strengthen our economy, deepen reforms, and promote national stability.

‎‎“We have therefore endorsed his re-election because we believe it is in the best interest of our country,” Imumolen said.

The party chairman, however, cautioned against interpreting the endorsement as evidence that Accord had surrendered its political identity or merged with another party.

‎‎“Let me state this clearly: the party’s endorsement of President Tinubu does not amount to the dissolution of the Accord Party or its merger with any political platform.

‎‎“Accord remains an independent political party with its own constitution, leadership, ideology, and vision for Nigeria,” he said.

‎‎Imumolen maintained that the party would continue to take independent positions on political and governance issues despite its support for Tinubu. ‎On the Osun State governorship election, the party said it had taken a strategic decision to adopt Oyebamiji, the APC candidate. ‎Imumolen said the decision followed consultations and an assessment of the political situation in the state.

‎‎“After careful consultations and a thorough assessment of the political realities in Osun State, the Accord Party has resolved to adopt and support the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.

‎‎“This strategic decision is driven solely by our commitment to ensuring competent leadership and sustainable development for the people of Osun State,” he stated.

‎‎Accord urged members of the public, the media and political stakeholders to distinguish between its endorsement of Tinubu at the national level and its alliance with the APC candidate in Osun State. The party said suggestions that it had ceased to operate independently were inaccurate and misleading.

‎‎It added that it remained committed to democratic principles, national unity and issue-based politics, stressing that its political decisions would continue to be guided by what it considered the best interests of Nigerians.

‎‎Naija News reports that the Accord Party faction loyal to Governor Ademola Adeleke had earlier endorsed President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.

‎The party chairman, however, cautioned against interpreting the endorsement as evidence that Accord had surrendered its political identity or merged with another party.

‎‎“Let me state this clearly: the party’s endorsement of President Tinubu does not amount to the dissolution of the Accord Party or its merger with any political platform.

‎‎“Accord remains an independent political party with its own constitution, leadership, ideology, and vision for Nigeria,” he said.

‎‎Imumolen said the decision followed consultations and an assessment of the political situation in the state.

‎After careful consultations and a thorough assessment of the political realities in Osun State, the Accord Party has resolved to adopt and support the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.

‎“This strategic decision is driven solely by our commitment to ensuring competent leadership and sustainable development for the people of Osun State,” he stated.

‎Accord urged members of the public, the media and political stakeholders to distinguish between its endorsement of Tinubu at the national level and its alliance with the APC candidate in Osun State.

‎‎The party said suggestions that it had ceased to operate independently were inaccurate and misleading.

Daily voice reports that the Accord Party faction loyal to Governor Ademola Adeleke had earlier endorsed President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.

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