A coalition campaigning for the return of former President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that he will feature on the ballot in the 2027 presidential election, despite the ex-leader not yet formally accepting the proposal.
The Convener of the Coalition for Jonathan and member of the African Democratic Congress, Dr Tom Ohikere, disclosed this during an interview on ARISE TV, stating that Jonathan would make his position known within the next two days.
Ohikere was reacting to Jonathan’s recent remark that seeking the presidency was “not a computer game,” a statement he said had been wrongly interpreted by some Nigerians.
According to him, the former president only meant that contesting for the nation’s highest office involves extensive consultations and serious political processes.
He maintained that regardless of ongoing speculations, Jonathan would eventually appear on the 2027 presidential ballot.
When asked whether the former president had officially accepted the coalition’s proposal, Ohikere admitted that Jonathan had yet to give his consent.
He, however, expressed confidence that the former Bayelsa governor would soon make a public declaration on the matter.
The coalition has in recent months intensified calls for Jonathan to return to active politics, describing his potential candidacy as a unifying force capable of addressing the country’s political and economic challenges.
Sources within the movement said Jonathan had informed supporters during consultations that he would engage stakeholders across the country before taking a final decision.
The ADC has also emerged as the proposed platform for Jonathan’s possible presidential bid as opposition groups continue moves to strengthen alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, the former president’s eligibility to seek another term remains a subject of legal debate.
A suit currently before the Federal High Court is challenging whether Jonathan can lawfully contest again under the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, having previously completed the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua before serving a full term between 2011 and 2015.
Jonathan lost his re-election bid in 2015 to former President Muhammadu Buhari and was widely commended for conceding defeat before the final announcement of the election results.