Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A coalition campaigning for the return of former President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that he will be on the 2027 presidential ballot, adding that the ex‑leader will make his position known within one to two days despite not having formally accepted the proposal. The Convener of the Coalition for Jonathan and a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr. Tom Ohikere, made the disclosure during an interview with ARISE TV, emphasising that Jonathan's recent remark that contesting for the presidency was "not a computer game" had been misread by observers and was not a rejection of the draft. "Let me make sure that it must not be misunderstood by Nigerians. When he said it's not a computer game, what he was trying to say was that it's not an easy thing for somebody to just come up and say he wants to contest presidency. A lot is involved," Ohikere explained. Pushed on whether Jonathan had accepted the coalition's proposal, Ohikere conceded, "He never accepted. But in the fullness of time, shortly, shortly, give him the next one or two days, he will make his pronouncement."
The coalition, operating under the banner "Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan 2027", had earlier staged a massive youth demonstration outside Jonathan's Abuja residence on Thursday, May 7, flooding Taraba Close in the Maitama district with protesters carrying placards that read "GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!" and "GEJ, if you no run, we quench". Addressing the crowd, Jonathan did not shut the door. "I have heard you loud and clear. I will consult widely before taking any decision," he declared, while also challenging the youths to obtain their voter cards and engage robustly in the electoral process, noting Nigeria's persistently low voter turnout despite its huge voting population.
The prospect of a Jonathan candidacy has reshuffled the opposition's calculation. The ADC, which has been positioning itself as a coalition platform for opposition forces, has already been linked to the former president's potential run. However, Jonathan's eligibility to contest remains the subject of a legal dispute, with a Federal High Court suit challenging whether a return to the ballot would violate term‑limit provisions of the 1999 Constitution, given that he served as president from 2010 to 2015. Jonathan lost his re‑election bid to former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and conceded defeat before the final results were fully announced.
Ohikere dismissed legal concerns, arguing that the matter had been settled by a High Court ruling in Yenagoa years ago and that the period for challenging the decision had long passed. He also defended Jonathan's age at 68, pointing out that the former president is among the youngest of the expected contestants, noting that figures such as Atiku Abubakar are 78. "So Goodluck Jonathan is the best; he should be seen as one of the youngest in this race," Ohikere said. The coalition has intensified calls for Jonathan to contest, describing his possible return as a pathway to national unity, while opposition groups continue consultations ahead of the 2027 polls. As the one to two‑day window elapses, Nigerians are waiting to see whether the former president will break his silence and inaugurate what could be the most closely watched comeback bid in the nation's political landscape.
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