The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is actively seeking to bring back former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, according to a report by BBC Hausa monitored on Tuesday.
Abuja, Nigeria
Confirming the development, the PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, revealed that party leaders are engaged in talks with the former president in an attempt to persuade him to return and lead the party into the next election.
Jonathan, who served one term from 2010 to 2015, lost his re-election bid to the late President Muhammadu Buhari. However, recent sentiments among some Nigerians and PDP loyalists have sparked a renewed interest in his leadership. 
“We are inviting Jonathan because many Nigerians are also calling on him to come back,” Abdullahi said. He praised Jonathan as a true statesman, pointing out that “most of the problems he was blamed for were not his fault.”
He further commended Jonathan’s conduct in the 2015 election, noting that “despite being the incumbent, he chose not to rig the election but conceded defeat peacefully to avoid bloodshed — a rare act of political maturity in Nigeria’s democratic history.”
According to Abdullahi, the former president has given a positive initial response, saying he would “ponder and consult” before making a final decision. However, one of the conditions reportedly discussed was an automatic party ticket should he choose to accept the offer.
Jonathan has yet to publicly confirm or reject the invitation, but the PDP’s move signals a strategic effort to unify its base around a familiar and respected figure, as the party gears up to challenge the ruling party in 2027.
