NIGERIA: Group Urges Jonathan To Contest 2027 Presidential Election

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

A pro-Jonathan pressure group, Bring Back Our Goodluck, has called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.

The group made the appeal on Sunday during a press conference at the Aminu Kano Centre for Democracy, Research and Training, Mambayya House, in Kano.

Speaking at the briefing, the National Coordinator of the group, Dr. Grema Kyari, said Nigerians were misled in 2015 into voting out Jonathan’s administration.

He argued that the former president remained the “surest path to rescue Nigeria” from hardship, insecurity, and disunity under the All Progressives Congress-led government.

Kyari cited global examples of political comebacks, including Donald Trump in the United States and John Mahama in Ghana, to justify Jonathan’s possible return.

“We were misled in 2015 by the APC under the late Muhammadu Buhari, Bola Tinubu, Yemi Osinbajo, and Chief Bisi Akande. They sold Nigerians deceitful promises which they never fulfilled. Instead of progress, the country has been plunged into hunger, poverty, and frustration,” Kyari told journalists.

The group said Jonathan’s tenure marked Nigeria’s last era of economic stability. It pointed to relatively stable food prices, affordable fuel, and youth empowerment initiatives such as YouWin! and SURE-P.

Kyari contrasted the current economic situation with Jonathan’s time in office. “Under Jonathan, a bag of rice sold for about N7,800; today the same bag costs between N80,000 and N100,000. Millions have been pushed into hunger,” he said.

He also described Jonathan as a unifying leader who appointed officials across ethnic and religious divides, making him the right candidate to heal Nigeria’s divisions.

Beyond urging Jonathan to run, the group appealed to other opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Nasir El-Rufai, to set aside personal ambitions and support Jonathan as a consensus candidate.

Kyari said the 2027 general elections would not be “just another election year” but a “rescue mission” to stop what he described as the APC government’s erosion of democracy.

He noted that the campaign, which began in the Northeast, has now moved to the Northwest, described as the heartbeat of commerce and political influence in Northern Nigeria.

Closing the event, Kyari made a direct appeal to the former president: “In 2015, you chose peace over power. In 2027, Nigeria needs you to choose the people again. Let us chase out bad luck, poverty, and hunger. Let us bring back our Goodluck.”