The growing speculation about former President Goodluck Jonathan’s possible return to the presidential race in 2027 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn on Monday.

Jonathan was reportedly dragged before a Federal High Court in Abuja over his alleged bid to participate in the forthcoming election.

Earlier, former Minister of Information and PDP chieftain, Professor Jerry Gana, had publicly declared that Jonathan would contest as the party’s presidential candidate in 2027.

Speaking in Minna after the election of new PDP officials in Niger State, Gana said Nigerians were calling for Jonathan’s return, adding:

“In 2015, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of Nigerians. After him, another president ruled for eight years, and now another has ruled for two years. Nigerians have seen the difference and are asking that we bring back our friend, former President Goodluck Jonathan. I can confirm that he will contest the 2027 presidential election as the PDP candidate.”

Since that statement, sources within the presidency have reportedly expressed discomfort over the possibility of Jonathan entering the race.

In a new twist, a lawyer, Mr. Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi, has filed a suit (marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025), asking the court to disqualify Jonathan from contesting.

The suit seeks a perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for the purpose of contesting the 2027 presidential election. The lawyer also asked the court to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or publishing his name as a candidate for the poll.

Jonathan, INEC, and the Attorney General of the Federation were listed as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants respectively.

The suit raises the question of whether, under Sections 1(1)(2)(3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Jonathan is legally eligible to contest for president again, having been sworn in twice in the past.

Presidency: Jonathan’s Record a “Disaster”

Last week, the presidency criticized Jonathan’s past performance in office, describing his administration as “disastrous.”

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, challenged the former leader to face President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 polls. He claimed Jonathan’s presidency lacked a clear economic direction and left the country in poor condition.

Onanuga further questioned Jonathan’s eligibility, saying:

“Jonathan will have his day in court. The judiciary will decide whether someone who has been sworn in twice can contest for the presidency again and, if successful, be sworn in for a third term.”

Jonathan first became president in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later won the 2011 election before losing to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

Legal Expert: Suit Against Jonathan an Abuse of Court Process

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oba Maduabuchi, has dismissed the Abuja suit challenging Jonathan’s eligibility as an “abuse of court process.”

Speaking on Arise Television, Maduabuchi noted that a court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, had already ruled on Jonathan’s qualification, and that ruling has not been appealed.

He emphasized that the 2018 constitutional amendment introducing Section 137(3)—which limits a person who has completed another’s term to one further tenure—cannot apply retroactively to Jonathan.

“When Jonathan took the oath of office in 2010 to complete Yar’Adua’s tenure, Section 137(3) did not exist. Therefore, it cannot be used against him now,” the SAN explained.

APC: Jonathan Needs ‘Overdose of Good Luck’

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has mocked the idea of Jonathan returning to Aso Rock, calling it a desperate move by the opposition.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, the party said Jonathan would need “an overdose of good luck” to stand any realistic chance of winning the presidency again.

“If he chooses to run, the landmines before him are numerous — legal challenges, records, and questions of capacity,” the APC said.

Kenneth Okonkwo Advises Jonathan to Steer Clear

Actor, lawyer, and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has warned Jonathan against contesting in 2027, saying it would only damage his reputation.

In a video shared on social media, Okonkwo said Jonathan, who had already ruled for almost six years, would effectively serve nearly a decade if re-elected.

“Jonathan should not contemplate running in 2027. Those who nearly ruined his name when they weren’t in power are now in power; they will drag him again,” Okonkwo warned.

Bishop Kukah Urges Caution

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, has also advised Jonathan to be cautious as he weighs calls to contest again.

Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Kukah praised Jonathan’s 2015 concession of defeat as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democracy but warned him to be wary of political manipulation.

Quoting General Theophilus Danjuma, Kukah said:

“The voice of the devil is not so far from the voice of God. Listen carefully to those who want to use you for their interests and not for Nigeria’s.”

He urged Jonathan to reflect deeply and make his decision guided by conscience and national interest.

Analyst: APC, Tinubu’s Camp Nervous

A public affairs analyst and communication scholar, Dr. Nduka Odo, has said the reactions from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Tinubu’s supporters show growing anxiety over Jonathan’s potential return.

According to him, the ruling party’s attacks on Jonathan and other perceived opponents like Peter Obi are driven more by fear of losing power than by principle.

“No one sees a threat to their source of power and keeps quiet. Jonathan is a threat. Peter Obi has been one for a long time,” Odo said.

He added that the ruling party has mastered the art of launching propaganda against strong rivals, saying, “They have every right to defend their position, but Nigerians can see through the fear behind it.”