Former President Goodluck Jonathan says he will consult widely before deciding whether to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing the race for Nigeria’s highest office as “not a computer game.”
Jonathan spoke Thursday while receiving youth groups at his office in Abuja, where they urged him to join the 2027 presidential race.
“You are asking me to come and contest the next election. The presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you, and I’ll consult widely,” he said.
The former president said leadership decisions required careful consideration and commended the youths for showing interest in the country’s future.
“If you have no interest in the country, you will not bother to be here,” he added.
Jonathan also urged young Nigerians to promote peace and credible elections, warning that flawed electoral processes discourage qualified citizens from participating in politics.
“The key thing we need in this country is peace, so you continue to advocate for that. And you continue to advocate for peaceful and credible elections in the country,” he said.
He expressed concern over Nigeria’s low voter turnout, saying the country records one of the poorest participation rates during elections despite its large voting population.
Jonathan said the Independent National Electoral Commission should examine the causes of voter apathy and involve experts to address the issue.
He also challenged young people to participate actively in the electoral process by obtaining voter cards and voting during elections.
“If I ask how many of you have your voter’s card now, probably 50 per cent of you don’t have your voter’s card. And you’re asking me to go and contest the election. So you must participate in the electoral process,” he said.
Jonathan said he would continue consultations before making any political decision ahead of 2027.
“I cannot just wake up and say I want to be the president of Nigeria again. But I am telling you that I will consult,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja is scheduled to hear a suit Friday seeking to bar Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025 and filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, asks the court to declare Jonathan constitutionally ineligible to seek the presidency again and restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting or publishing his name as a candidate.
Justice Peter Lifu had on April 28 ordered hearing notices to be issued and served on the defendants after they failed to file responses.
Jonathan is listed as the first defendant in the suit, while the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation are named as second and third defendants.
The plaintiff argued that Jonathan exhausted the constitutional limit of two terms after completing the tenure of late President Umaru Yar’Adua following his death in 2010 and subsequently serving a full term after winning the 2011 election.
According to the affidavit supporting the suit, Jonathan was sworn in as president on May 6, 2010, a day after Yar’Adua’s death.
The plaintiff contended that if Jonathan contests and wins the 2027 election, he would be taking the presidential oath of office for the third time, contrary to the Constitution.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Democratic Congress denied reports that it had entered into a pact with Jonathan ahead of the 2027 election.
Speaking in Abuja, the party’s Deputy National Spokesman, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, said consultations on the party’s presidential ticket were still ongoing and no decision had been taken regarding Jonathan’s candidacy.
“We have not zoned the presidential ticket. Consultations are still ongoing since politics is a dynamic game,” Abdulsalam said.
He added that the party remained open to high-profile politicians across party lines, including former governors, ex-ministers and serving lawmakers.
Abdulsalam described reports linking Jonathan to the party as speculation but said the former president remained constitutionally qualified to contest on any political platform if he chose to do so.
