2027: Peter Obi or Goodluck Jonathan?

As political permutations gather pace ahead of the 2027 presidential election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is weighing two prominent Southern figures, former President Goodluck Jonathan and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as potential candidates to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Multiple party sources said that Jonathan has emerged as a top contender within PDP circles, as chieftains intensify efforts to bring him back into the fold.

The move comes amid the party’s ongoing internal crisis and declining influence, especially following the defection of its 2019 and 2023 presidential flag bearer, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to the opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Jonathan, who lost his re-election bid to then opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, is believed to have shown renewed interest in returning to the political fray. His appeal, according to party insiders, lies in the constitutional term-limit clause, which provides that he can only serve one more term, a situation seen by many as a strategic route to balancing the power rotation debate between the North and South.

Although the PDP has yet to officially zone its 2027 presidential ticket, discussions are reportedly mirroring debates within the ADC-led coalition.

Within the ADC-led coalition, it was gathered that the central dilemma is whether to support Atiku again or to back a Southern candidate like Obi or former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, both of whom have pledged to serve only one term if elected.

However, questions over the enforcement of such pledges have prompted some within the coalition to view Jonathan as a more constitutionally guaranteed one-term option.

Obi, who defected from the PDP in 2022, has been the subject of lobbying by several PDP stakeholders seeking his return to lead the party in 2027. Yet, resistance remains, particularly from some Northern PDP power brokers, who argue that Obi’s one-term promise to the ADC lacks legal force and could be disregarded if he assumes office.

For these figures, sources say Jonathan presents a safer bet. As a former president, he is already constitutionally barred from seeking more than one additional term. His potential candidacy is seen as a tactical compromise that could satisfy Southern demands for power shift in 2027, while keeping hopes alive for a Northern return to the presidency in 2031.

Confirming mounting speculation, the PDP has acknowledged ongoing discussions with former President Goodluck Jonathan over a potential return to the presidential race in 2027 under its platform.

Jonathan, who led Nigeria from 2010 to 2015 and conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari in the historic 2015 election, has largely stayed away from partisan politics since leaving office. In 2023, a shadowy group purchased a presidential nomination form for him under the ruling APC, but he rejected the move, citing a lack of interest.

Now, the PDP appears keen to bring him back, with senior party figures — including serving governors — said to be involved in discreet negotiations.

Sources who spoke to BBC Hausa said Jonathan has not dismissed the overture outright but is reportedly considering it under specific conditions.

The party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, confirmed the development, attributing the effort to growing public nostalgia for Jonathan’s leadership style. He said many Nigerians, including former critics, now acknowledge what they believe was a more stable and democratic era under Jonathan.

“Even those who criticised him while in power are now admitting they were wrong. They’re asking for his forgiveness and urging him to return because they now recognise his values,” Abdullahi said.

He recalled Jonathan’s peaceful concession in 2015, describing it as a defining moment of statesmanship. “When he lost, he could have rigged the result in his favour, but he said no Nigerian’s blood was worth his ambition. That is the leadership Nigerians are yearning for—not just PDP members,” he added.
According to Abdullahi, some PDP heavyweights recently met the former president in The Gambia, where he was attending an international engagement, to persuade him further.

“He has started listening but with conditions. One is whether he would have to contest the primaries or if the ticket would be handed to him directly. He’s also consulting widely, seeking advice from trusted allies. That’s where discussions currently stand,” he said.

In addition to Jonathan, party sources told BBC Hausa that another group within the PDP is also exploring the possibility of reabsorbing former Kano State governor and 2023 NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Kwankwaso, who has remained politically relevant since the last election, is also being courted by the APC. President Tinubu is said to be interested in bringing him back to the ruling party, especially after the exit of his long-time political rival, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as APC national chairman, a development viewed as a major concession to woo Kwankwaso.

However, sources close to the former governor told Daily Trust that one of the reasons he has yet to commit to the APC is the possibility of being offered the vice-presidential slot on a joint ticket with Jonathan, who, constitutionally, can serve only one more term.

It was gathered that the PDP is already exploring the option of pairing the two as a unity ticket. But Tinubu’s camp is also said to be stepping up its efforts to lure Kwankwaso, whose political influence in Kano — with 5.9 million registered voters — remains a key bargaining chip.

While efforts to get a formal reaction from Jonathan’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, were not successful as of the time of filing this report, a former senior aide to former president jonathan said that consultations with the ex-president by PDP leaders have been ongoing for months.

The source, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the discussions, confirmed that a high-level meeting was scheduled to take place recently but did not hold as planned.

“I am aware a meeting was supposed to happen between PDP leaders and our boss, but it didn’t take place. I can’t speak to whether another meeting happened abroad, though it’s likely they met him,” he said.

Pressed on whether Jonathan would accept the offer, the former aide said the ex-president is not opposed to the idea but is approaching it with caution.

“He won’t reject the proposal outright if things are handled properly. What he wants is an ironclad commitment from those championing his candidacy,” he said.

“Our politicians can be unreliable. He doesn’t want to be dragged into the race, only to be abandoned midway. He’s a statesman with significant international standing, and he doesn’t want that image compromised.”

He added that unlike the APC-backed push in 2023, the current overture is being driven from within the PDP, which, according to him, changes the dynamics.

“This time, the call is coming from the PDP, and they have their reasons. They know he’s the most formidable candidate from the South, and they know he’ll only serve one term.”

The aide also pointed to lingering public sentiment in favour of Jonathan. “Beyond party politics, Nigerians remember his performance. They know how the economy fared under him and how their wellbeing was prioritised. So yes, the conversation is very much on the table,” he said.

“If those pushing for him are serious and offer genuine assurance of support, he’ll contest.”

Amid this renewed speculation over a possible presidential comeback, Jonathan at the weekend held a closed-door meeting with former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), at his Minna residence in Niger State.