Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, may seek a return to the presidency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sources close to his camp have said.
A top official in Jonathan’s team told Vanguard on Sunday that the decision to use the PDP followed extensive deliberations on where his chances would be brighter.
The source said the former president was considering a return to power to provide what his supporters described as quality leadership amid rising hardship and poverty in the country.
The confirmation that Jonathan may use the PDP has triggered a scramble among support groups seeking to purchase the party’s presidential nomination form for him.
The factionalised PDP has pegged the form at ₦100 million.
A source said the groups were aware that the deadline for submitting the form was Tuesday and were determined to buy it for Jonathan.
The source said a diaspora group known as the Goodluckan Movement was claiming the right to obtain the form, arguing that it was more representative of Nigerians worldwide than northern groups seeking to do so.
Some of the groups said to be in the race to purchase the form include Coalition for Jonathan, which had twice mobilised youths to Jonathan’s office to urge him to contest; Goodies Movement, an online support group for the former president; and The New Nigeria, a mass-based movement with many members in northern Nigeria.
Others include the Almajiri Network, Arewa for Good Governance, Northern Youth Alliance for Good Governance, Northern Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan, Arewa for Better Government and North Youth Progressive Movement.
The official claimed that each group had pledged to raise the ₦100m needed to purchase the form.
Jonathan Reportedly Made Up Mind
Although Jonathan had told groups urging him to run in 2027 that he would consult widely before taking a final decision, sources said he had already made up his mind to contest.
The former president is said to be hoping to convince Nigerians to return him to office to revamp the economy and reduce hardship.
The leader of one of the Jonathan support groups, Dr Tom Ohikere, had urged him to “immediately pick a presidential nomination form of any party of your choice to contest the elections.”
Following calls by support groups for Jonathan to run, questions had emerged over the political platform he would use.
The Turaki-led PDP faction subsequently issued a statement saying Jonathan had fulfilled the necessary conditions to fly the party’s flag.
The faction’s spokesman, Ini Ememobong, said Jonathan had earlier completed his online registration with the PDP.
Ememobong also dismissed rumours over Jonathan’s party membership, noting that there had been no denial from his media team or close associates.
In 2022, a northern Almajiri group purchased a ₦100m APC presidential form for Jonathan, but he later disowned the form, and it was never submitted.
This time, however, sources pointed to Jonathan’s legal move at the Federal High Court in Abuja as an indication of seriousness.
The former president has asked the court to dismiss a suit filed by a lawyer seeking to stop him from contesting again on the grounds that he had already served two terms.
The case is expected to determine whether Jonathan can challenge the incumbent and seek a return to Aso Rock in 2027.
