Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A former aide to ex‑President Muhammadu Buhari has issued a blunt warning to former President Goodluck Jonathan, advising him that a return to partisan politics in the 2027 presidential election could erase the legacy of statesmanship and humility that has defined his post‑presidency years. Bashir Ahmad, who served as Special Assistant on Digital Communications to President Buhari from 2015 to 2023, took to his X handle on Monday, May 11, 2026, to express his concerns, writing: “You will destroy your legacy returning to politics, Sir.” Ahmad’s comments came amid growing speculation that Jonathan is considering a comeback bid, a prospect that has divided political observers and generated intense legal battles over his constitutional eligibility.
Ahmad, a prominent voice in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a steadfast supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s re‑election campaign, argued that Jonathan has already cemented a reputation as a global statesman and a symbol of peaceful democratic transition in Africa. “Goodluck Jonathan is respected worldwide because he chose honour over power in 2015. That singular act made him an icon of democracy. Returning to the political trenches will only muddy that image,” Ahmad wrote. He cautioned that the rigours of a presidential campaign, including negative campaigning, legal challenges, and the inevitable mudslinging, could tarnish the goodwill Jonathan has carefully cultivated since leaving office.
Jonathan, who served as President from 2010 to 2015, lost his re‑election bid to Muhammadu Buhari in March 2015 and became the first incumbent Nigerian president to concede defeat before the final results were officially announced. That act of political maturity earned him international acclaim and positioned him as a mediator in several African election disputes. Since leaving office, he has chaired the International Contact Group on The Gambia, helped resolve political crises in Mali and Sudan, and served as a special envoy for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). His post‑presidential diplomacy has burnished his image as a peacemaker, distancing him from the corruption allegations that plagued his administration.
However, in recent months, a coalition of supporters has been campaigning for Jonathan to return to the 2027 presidential ballot, arguing that his experience and national appeal could provide the leadership needed to address Nigeria’s mounting security and economic crises. The “Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan 2027” has staged demonstrations outside his Abuja residence, and its convener, Dr. Tom Ohikere, has repeatedly claimed that Jonathan is “seriously considering” the draft. A Federal High Court in Abuja is currently hearing a suit challenging Jonathan’s eligibility to run, with a ruling expected later in May. The suit argues that Jonathan has already taken the presidential oath twice — first in 2010 after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and again in 2011 after his election victory — and is therefore barred from seeking another term.
Ahmad’s intervention is significant because it comes from within the APC and reflects a growing anxiety among Tinubu loyalists that a Jonathan candidacy could split the vote in key regions, particularly in the South‑South and South‑East, where the former president retains strong support. While Jonathan has not publicly declared his intention, he has met with political stakeholders, including leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and, more recently, figures associated with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). In April 2026, he held a closed‑door meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, fuelling speculation about a possible opposition coalition ticket.
Political analysts are divided on the impact of a Jonathan return. Some argue that his post‑presidential diplomacy has given him a moral stature that could appeal to a war‑weary electorate. Others contend that his administration was plagued by corruption scandals, including the $2.1 billion arms procurement fraud that implicated several of his aides, and that a return would revive those controversies. Jonathan has consistently denied any personal involvement in corruption. In his few public comments on the 2027 speculation, he has neither confirmed nor ruled out a run, telling supporters at a May 7 gathering that he would “consult widely” before making a decision. “I have heard you loud and clear. I will consult widely before taking any decision,” he said, while urging youths to obtain their voter cards.
Bashir Ahmad’s warning taps into a deeper concern: that Jonathan’s legacy, carefully curated over a decade, could be undone by a single campaign. Ahmad noted that even if Jonathan were to win, the bitterness of the electoral contest and the challenges of governance could overshadow his achievements as a democrat. “Ask any former president who returned to politics after leaving office. Very few improved their legacy. Most ended up diminishing it,” he wrote. Ahmad also pointed to the legal uncertainty surrounding Jonathan’s eligibility, arguing that the controversy alone would be a distraction. “Why put yourself through that stress? You have already given your best to Nigeria. Let the younger generation take over,” he added.
Jonathan’s close associates have pushed back against Ahmad’s warning, accusing him of trying to discourage the former president because the APC fears a Jonathan candidacy. A spokesperson for the former president, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Stone Reporters News that “President Jonathan will make his own decision based on what is best for the country, not on what political jobbers say on social media.” The spokesperson also noted that Jonathan has not yet accepted any draft and is still weighing his options. As the 2027 election cycle intensifies, the question of Jonathan’s political future remains one of Nigeria’s most watched subplots. For now, Bashir Ahmad has thrown down the gauntlet, and the former president’s response — whether in words or in action — will determine if his legacy is strengthened or fractured.
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