The Presidency has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would not object to former President Goodluck Jonathan contesting in the 2027 presidential election. However, it cautioned Jonathan to be careful of political figures allegedly trying to push him into the race for their own selfish interests.
In a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency criticized Jonathan’s past leadership, accusing him of running Nigeria’s economy “aground” during his five-year tenure. It insisted that Nigerians still remember what it described as his “abysmal performance in office.”
The warning came in response to remarks by former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, who claimed Jonathan would run in 2027 and send President Tinubu “back to Lagos.”
According to the Presidency:
“Former President Jonathan has the constitutional right to run if he wishes. President Tinubu will welcome him into the race. However, Jonathan must be cautious of those luring him for their political, religious, and ethnic interests — the same people who abandoned him in 2015.”
The statement also dismissed claims that Jonathan could defeat Tinubu, calling such suggestions “delusional.” It further noted that even if Jonathan joins the race, there may be legal battles over his eligibility since he has already been sworn in twice as president.
Despite its strong criticism, the Presidency insisted that Tinubu is not afraid of competition but warned that the opposition is stirring election fever “prematurely” out of desperation.
As political tension builds up ahead of 2027, the possibility of a Tinubu–Jonathan clash remains one of the most talked-about topics in Nigeria’s political space.
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