As political permutations gather pace ahead of the 2027 presidential election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is weighing two prominent Southern figures, former President Goodluck Jonathan and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as potential candidates to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Multiple party sources told Daily Trust that Jonathan has emerged as a top contender within PDP circles, as chieftains intensify efforts to bring him back into the fold.
The move comes amid the party’s ongoing internal crisis and declining influence, especially following the defection of its 2019 and 2023 presidential flag bearer, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to the opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Jonathan, who lost his re-election bid to then opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, is believed to have shown renewed interest in returning to the political fray. His appeal, according to party insiders, lies in the constitutional term-limit clause, which provides that he can only serve one more term, a situation seen by many as a strategic route to balancing the power rotation debate between the North and South.
Although the PDP has yet to officially zone its 2027 presidential ticket, discussions are reportedly mirroring debates within the ADC-led coalition.
Within the ADC-led coalition, it was gathered that the central dilemma is whether to support Atiku again or to back a Southern candidate like Obi or former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, both of whom have pledged to serve only one term if elected.
However, questions over the enforcement of such pledges have prompted some within the coalition to view Jonathan as a more constitutionally guaranteed one-term option.
Obi, who defected from the PDP in 2022, has been the subject of lobbying by several PDP stakeholders seeking his return to lead the party in 2027. Yet, resistance remains, particularly from some Northern PDP power brokers, who argue that Obi’s one-term promise to the ADC lacks legal force and could be disregarded if he assumes office.
For these figures, sources say Jonathan presents a safer bet. As a former president, he is already constitutionally barred from seeking more than one additional term. His potential candidacy is seen as a tactical compromise that could satisfy Southern demands for power shift in 2027, while keeping hopes alive for a Northern return to the presidency in 2031.
PDP confirms efforts to woo Jonathan
Confirming mounting speculation, the PDP has acknowledged ongoing discussions with former President Goodluck Jonathan over a potential return to the presidential race in 2027 under its platform.
Jonathan, who led Nigeria from 2010 to 2015 and conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari in the historic 2015 election, has largely stayed away from partisan politics since leaving office. In 2023, a shadowy group purchased a presidential nomination form for him under the ruling APC, but he rejected the move, citing a lack of interest.
Now, the PDP appears keen to bring him back, with senior party figures — including serving governors — said to be involved in discreet negotiations.
Sources who spoke to BBC Hausa said Jonathan has not dismissed the overture outright but is reportedly considering it under specific conditions.
The party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, confirmed the development, attributing the effort to growing public nostalgia for Jonathan’s leadership style. He said many Nigerians, including former critics, now acknowledge what they believe was a more stable and democratic era under Jonathan.
“Even those who criticised him while in power are now admitting they were wrong. They’re asking for his forgiveness and urging him to return because they now recognise his values,” Abdullahi said.
He recalled Jonathan’s peaceful concession in 2015, describing it as a defining moment of statesmanship. “When he lost, he could have rigged the result in his favour, but he said no Nigerian’s blood was worth his ambition. That is the leadership Nigerians are yearning for—not just PDP members,” he added.
According to Abdullahi, some PDP heavyweights recently met the former president in The Gambia, where he was attending an international engagement, to persuade him further.
“He has started listening but with conditions. One is whether he would have to contest the primaries or if the ticket would be handed to him directly. He’s also consulting widely, seeking advice from trusted allies. That’s where discussions currently stand,” he said.
In addition to Jonathan, party sources told BBC Hausa that another group within the PDP is also exploring the possibility of reabsorbing former Kano State governor and 2023 NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Kwankwaso, who has remained politically relevant since the last election, is also being courted by the APC. President Tinubu is said to be interested in bringing him back to the ruling party, especially after the exit of his long-time political rival, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as APC national chairman, a development viewed as a major concession to woo Kwankwaso.
However, sources close to the former governor told Daily Trust that one of the reasons he has yet to commit to the APC is the possibility of being offered the vice-presidential slot on a joint ticket with Jonathan, who, constitutionally, can serve only one more term.
It was gathered that the PDP is already exploring the option of pairing the two as a unity ticket. But Tinubu’s camp is also said to be stepping up its efforts to lure Kwankwaso, whose political influence in Kano — with 5.9 million registered voters — remains a key bargaining chip.
Jonathan needs concrete assurances – Ex-aide
While efforts to get a formal reaction from Jonathan’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, were not successful as of the time of filing this report, a former senior aide to the former president told Daily Trust that consultations with the ex-president by PDP leaders have been ongoing for months.
The source, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the discussions, confirmed that a high-level meeting was scheduled to take place recently but did not hold as planned.
“I am aware a meeting was supposed to happen between PDP leaders and our boss, but it didn’t take place. I can’t speak to whether another meeting happened abroad, though it’s likely they met him,” he said.
Pressed on whether Jonathan would accept the offer, the former aide said the ex-president is not opposed to the idea but is approaching it with caution.
“He won’t reject the proposal outright if things are handled properly. What he wants is an ironclad commitment from those championing his candidacy,” he said.
“Our politicians can be unreliable. He doesn’t want to be dragged into the race, only to be abandoned midway. He’s a statesman with significant international standing, and he doesn’t want that image compromised.”
He added that unlike the APC-backed push in 2023, the current overture is being driven from within the PDP, which, according to him, changes the dynamics.
“This time, the call is coming from the PDP, and they have their reasons. They know he’s the most formidable candidate from the South, and they know he’ll only serve one term.”
The aide also pointed to lingering public sentiment in favour of Jonathan. “Beyond party politics, Nigerians remember his performance. They know how the economy fared under him and how their wellbeing was prioritised. So yes, the conversation is very much on the table,” he said.
“If those pushing for him are serious and offer genuine assurance of support, he’ll contest.”
Jonathan’s visit to IBB sparks speculation amid wife’s endorsement of Tinubu
Amid this renewed speculation over a possible presidential comeback, Jonathan at the weekend held a closed-door meeting with former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), at his Minna residence in Niger State.
Although the details of the meeting were not made public, sources familiar with the development said the discussion centred on political developments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
An aide to the former military president told Daily Trust that during the meeting, IBB directly asked Jonathan if he was planning to run for president again. The former president was said to have responded that he had not yet made up his mind.
However, analysts believe Jonathan’s prospects may be limited by the public stance of his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, a prominent voice in his political career.
In May, the former First Lady ruled out any return to Aso Rock and declared her support for President Tinubu and First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu in 2027.
Speaking at an event in Abuja, Patience said: “There is only one president at a time. I believe in turn-by-turn. When it’s your turn, I will support you. When it’s not your turn, step back; so that the country can move forward.”
She also praised Remi Tinubu, describing her as a longtime friend and political ally dating back to their time as wives of deputy governors and later as First Ladies.
“I’ve known Oluremi Tinubu for many years. Even when my husband was vice president, she and her husband supported us. So, I have a conscience. I cannot abandon my friend. I’ve told her I will campaign with her. I’m not running. I won’t return to the Villa,” she said.
Her remarks were widely interpreted as a definitive signal that the Jonathans are not seeking a return to power, with observers citing her influence in her husband’s political decisions.
Beyond the former First Lady’s posture, the role of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, a key PDP power broker with known sympathies for President Tinubu, has also emerged as a factor.
A senior party source told Daily Trust: “From what we are seeing, over Wike’s dead body will Jonathan get the PDP ticket if Wike thinks it could derail Tinubu’s re-election.”
Bala Mohammed’s hints and party dynamics
For many political observers, the PDP’s internal push for either Jonathan or Peter Obi as its 2027 presidential candidate is unsurprising.
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum and is seen as a likely contender himself, has on multiple occasions acknowledged the appeal of a Southern candidate.
In August 2024, he hinted at stepping aside if Jonathan decided to contest.
“With regard to your call for me to present myself, I am still contemplating my chances as leader of the opposition. I know there are good leaders within the PDP, especially my boss Goodluck Jonathan,” he said.
“I have always said that as long as Jonathan is around, I will not present myself for leadership of this country, unless he decides not to run. If we can persuade him to come forward, I will support him with my blood.”
Mohammed, who served as FCT Minister during Jonathan’s presidency, praised his former boss’s leadership style, citing initiatives such as the Almajiri education programme and youth empowerment schemes as examples of inclusive governance.
He added: “His recruitment of leaders was exemplary. We need people like him—young, energetic, with foresight and vision.”
In March 2025, Governor Mohammed further stirred the political waters by declaring Peter Obi as the de facto leader of Nigeria’s opposition, signalling openness to an alliance.
“Whether we like it or not, Peter Obi is the leader of the opposition in Nigeria now because of his position and pedigree. I’m ready to work with him to bring good governance to the country,” he said.
While dismissing questions about Obi’s possible return to the PDP as “semantics,” he stressed the need for unity: “Coming together is not about party, region or religion. It’s about service to the people.”
Obi’s one-term pledge and four-year plan
Obi, who emerged as a political force following the #EndSARS movement, left the PDP in May 2022 to pursue his presidential bid under the Labour Party. He had earlier been Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in 2019, with the duo securing 11.2 million votes in that year’s presidential election.
In 2023, both men contested separately and lost to President Tinubu. Obi came third with 6.1 million votes while Atiku polled 6.9 million, trailing Tinubu’s 8.79 million.
Since the 2023 polls, Obi has aligned with the ADC-led opposition coalition while remaining in the Labour Party, but his continued friction with the Julius Abure-led Labour Party and the growing disunity within the coalition have fuelled talks of a potential PDP return.
Observers say a PDP-Obi rapprochement could reshape the 2027 race, especially given Obi’s earlier pledge to serve only one term if elected president. He has committed to a structured four-year plan, shared publicly by his associate, Oseloka Obaze.
The plan outlines that Year 1 would be to streamline governance, cut costs, and correct the lack of effective fiscal control. Year 2 would be for reform of weak national institutions and Year 3 would be for a shift of the economy towards production while Year 4 would be to deliver unassailable elections.
Analysts weigh Jonathan’s potential candidacy
Reacting to the latest developments, Dr Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, told Daily Trust that while the push for Jonathan’s return may not materialise, its implications are significant.
“I do not think the overture will succeed. President Jonathan is now happy playing at the global stage. His wife has also crossed over the rubicon. I doubt that he would be willing to risk all at this stage although there are many who want him to come. I will also like him to come back. But it looks unlikely to happen,” he said.
Amadi added that the North may see a Jonathan candidacy as a strategic choice.
“The North stands to gain more with Jonathan’s return. It is a case of the devil I know is better than the angel I do not know. Jonathan was a good president to the North even better than Buhari. He will do one term because of constitutional limitations. So it is a bankable option for a North that wants a guarantee of power returning to the region in 2031.”
However, he warned that Jonathan’s entry could split the opposition and weaken the ADC’s momentum.
“It means that there would be a split in the support base of the Obidients and the ADC. Jonathan will be the most formidable opponent to Tinubu because the North will find him a good alternative to Tinubu. But Peter Obi will remain the choice of the youths and that may reduce the prospect of victory for Jonathan. I think he will not run,” he concluded.
On his part, Professor Abubakar Umar Kari, a political analyst based in Abuja, told BBC Hausa that Jonathan’s return would significantly alter the 2027 contest.
“It would be a very competitive race. As a former president with a strong support base, his entry could revive the PDP, which many now consider comatose.”
He added that Jonathan’s candidacy would pose a direct challenge to both the APC and the ADC coalition.
“If he accepts to run, it could deal a serious blow to the coalition, which currently positions itself as the main alternative to Tinubu’s re-election.”
(Daily trust)
