The plot to draft ex-President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race appears to be gathering steam.
His supporters in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday launched what some political observers interpreted to be part of the underground work to clear the way for his emergence as the party’s flag bearer.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) warned party members against further endorsing President Bola Tinubu for a second term.
Although, it did not mention the names of party members who have endorsed the President so far, the NWC branded their action as anti-party.
This, according to it, has continued to “impact negatively on the PDP, leading to division, disaffection and heavy haemorrhaging of members with the capacity to diminish our party’s electoral fortune if not immediately checked.”
Top members of the PDP including Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and the state chapter of the party, former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose as well as the Ogun State chapter of PDP led by the Chairman, Abayomi Tella, and the 2023 governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, had at different times said they were for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Speaking for the PDP NWC in a statement on Friday, National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the wave of endorsements was an affront on the party.
His words: ““The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reviewed the anti-party activities of certain members of the party, particularly those endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027.
“Of serious concern is the persistent public media outbursts against our Party by some prominent members whose actions and utterances, including their public declaration of support and willingness to work for the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 Presidential election in violation of the provision of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), constitute a serious threat to the stability and sustenance of our Party.
“Specifically, Section 10 (6) of the PDP Constitution provides that ‘NO MEMBER of the Party SHALL align with other Parties or groups to undermine the Party or any of its elected government’.
“In the light of the foregoing and the instancy of protecting and preserving the existence of our Party and its electoral fortune, the NWC, pursuant to the provisions of Section 59 (1) of the PDP Constitution hereby issues a strong reprimand against such anti-party activities and cautions those involved to retrace their steps or face stiffer sanctions as provided in the PDP Constitution.
“The NWC charges all members of the Party to remain loyal, focused and continue to work assiduously towards the successful conduct of the PDP National Convention scheduled to hold on the 15th and 16th November, 2025 in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.”
The statement comes on the heels of a hint dropped earlier in the week by former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, that Jonathan was highly qualified to seek re-election as president on the platform of the party.
“He’s very qualified because he did not leave the party. The more the merrier,” George said in an interview.
He added: “All those who say they want to contest should wait till 2035. He is the easiest to sell because he has a track record, especially the economic indices Nigeria witnessed during his tenure.”
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party at its recent 101st meeting in Abuja categorically zoned the 2027 presidential ticket to the south.
A northern state governor has been in the forefront of the underground moves to draft Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race.
The governor was a minister under Jonathan.
Party sources said he would not mind to be Jonathan’s running mate, and if the ticket prevails in the 2027 election, he would be in a good stead to run for the presidency himself.
However, there are concerns about the provisions of Sections 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which restrict someone who has been sworn in as president twice from being elected into the same office for more than a single term.
The Section stipulates thus: “A person who was sworn-in as President to complete the term for which another person was elected as president shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”
Two months ago, former first lady Patience Jonathan hinted that her husband would not be in the 2027 race.
She committed her family to the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking during an award ceremony in Abuja, Dame Patience said: “We don’t have two presidents. I am outspoken—if I don’t like something, I will say it. But if I like something, I die with it.
“I believe in one President. 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.”
Wike, Ortom, others must be expelled for campaigning against party — Lamido
For ex-Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, it is expulsion of Nyesom Wike; former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and other PDP members or nothing, for allegedly working against the party during the 2023 general elections.
Lamido said on Channels Television yesterday that it was time to end what he called the long-standing culture of impunity within the party.
“All those erring members, the Wikes, the Ortoms, the Ikpeazus and others, who openly campaigned against the PDP in the 2023 elections, and who say that they are going to work for APC in 2027, should be sacked from the party,” he said.
Continuing, the former foreign affairs minister said: “From way back after the primaries of 2022 leading to the elections of 2023, there are people who, because of their own interest and ambition, felt aggrieved about what transpired in the party’s convention and what they felt was not being able to address their interests as individuals at the elections.
“And they turned out against the party and fought the party. We’ve been having this kind of problem: the impunity of people castrating the party and denouncing it.
“In the constitution, if you breach the party’s code, you are sanctioned. But somehow, going into a ditch, the party executives are now alive to their responsibilities.”
Lamido vowed to keep off meetings of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT) until disciplinary action is taken against those who worked against the party.
He also expressed support for Jonathan’s return as president on the platform of PDP, saying: ““I think for PDP now they should try and woo him; he is their best bet. To me, he is their best bet. Anybody put forth by the PDP, Nigerians will support him.
“He is most welcomed, competent and very qualified. To me, I welcome him into the PDP. I think so far in the PDP, with all respect to all members, I don’t see a better alternative than Jonathan if he comes to the PDP.
“I don’t see any other person, really. If we are giving the presidency to the South, it will be the PDP. Who is there in PDP now that can challenge Jonathan in terms of being in office, being full-headed, being somebody who is willing to listen, and somebody who is also a key player who believes in partnership?”
South must retain Presidency in 2027, say Niger Delta leaders
Some Niger Delta leaders have asked northern stakeholders agitating for power shift to their zone in 2027 to exercise restraint and wait for their turn in 2031.
The Niger Delta leaders say the south must be allowed to complete its tenure.
The Secretary, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILOT); Sir Amorighoye Mene; former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye; a human rights lawyer, Oghenejabor Ikimi and a popular Niger Delta activist, Fyneface Dumnamene, urged the agitators to support a southern President in 2027.
Mene said any attempt to shift power to the north in 2027 would not only jeopardise the country’s unity, but would also breed inequity and unfairness towards Nigeria’s southerners.
He maintained that the mutual understanding of power rotation following the June 12, 1993 saga, has served as a lesson that anything otherwise could shred Nigeria’s existence.
“In Nigeria today, there is the understanding that power should rotate between the North and the South, even though it is not embedded in the constitution because the unity of this country will be jeopardised.
“That is why the two major parties in 1999 had southerners as candidates, having learnt from the June 12 saga. There is bound to be equity and fairness,” he said.
He added: “For the interest of this country, for us to remain one, power should remain in the South. The reason PDP is what it is today is because of the principle of rotation of power.
“The south must retain President in 2027. If there is anything otherwise, then the basis of our coexistence will be in issue. What is fair is fair. They should not push Nigeria to the precipice. By 2031, we can then back the northern candidate of our choice.”
Former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye said Nigerians would decide their President in 2027.
He said Tinubu is doing well and he wants to see Tinubu re-elected President.
He said: “There is a subsisting government who is doing well. He is putting a lot of structures in place that will turn around the country in economic, security and investment sense. 2027 is another year of election where the current President knows that he will be presenting his report card.
“Upon his performance, the Nigeria people will decide whether to reelect him or not. I am not going to be discussing the politics of power sharing. My concern is that there is a subsisting president and he is doing his best. It is not time to adjudge or not.
“If by 2027, Nigerians will decide who to vote for. This President is likely to seek re-election. Anybody could be interested to contest. What concerns me is that the one sitting there is doing well and I will support his re-election.”
Human rights lawyer, Oghenejabor Ikimi, noted that while there is no law backing power rotation between the North and the South, the “gentleman’s agreement” ensures that the country remains united.
Ikimi, the Executive Director, Centre for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged (CENTREP), said: “There is no law that says it should not go to the North. The rotation of power is a gentleman’s agreement. Those agitating are just politicians whose lives depend on politics. They are just blackmailing the present President.
“You don’t play politics with everything; they are just dividing the nation into two. They know what they are gaining from politics. They are not going there to make any impact. When your politics has become a lucrative business, then you will do anything to get power.
Another Niger Delta right activist in Port Harcourt, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, vehemently kicked against the agitation for power shift to the North in 2027, describing it as unfair to the South.
Fyneface, who is the Executive Director of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC)- Nigeria, said the South is entitled to remain in power till 2031, and that anything other than that would be an invitation to crisis.
He said: “All political parties in Nigeria should be fair to the South and field only Southern candidates as their presidential flag bearer in 2027.
“Now what will happen is that if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wins the poll, he will complete south’s tenure and return the power to the North. But if another person wins, the person will do only one term and return power to the North.
“Any northerner running for President in 2027 and any political party fielding a Northern candidate for 2027 to oust a Southern candidate is being ungrateful and inconsiderate to the South”.
