Chidinma Iroegbu
Fresh indications emerged on Tuesday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is preparing the ground for the possible return of former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2027 presidential election, following reports that the party has waived screening requirements for him.
The development was disclosed in Abuja by a member of the PDP screening committee, Babangida Aliyu, amid mounting speculation over Jonathan’s renewed political interest and growing consultations within the opposition party.
According to party insiders, the PDP faction reportedly aligned with Kabiru Turaki is intensifying efforts to simplify Jonathan’s participation in the party’s presidential primary as stakeholders continue strategic negotiations ahead of 2027.
The latest move has further fueled political discussions across the country, especially after claims surfaced that the former president had already obtained the PDP presidential nomination form in readiness for the contest.
Former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, Umar Sani, confirmed the development during an interview on Trust TV, insisting that Jonathan had already taken practical steps toward joining the race.
Sani disclosed that the former president was preparing to publicly submit his nomination documents, a move many political observers believe could significantly reshape the political permutations ahead of the next general election.
He, however, explained that the lingering leadership crisis within the PDP may have contributed to Jonathan’s cautious political calculations and delayed public declaration of ambition.
The former presidential aide dismissed suggestions that the PDP was merely attempting to leverage Jonathan’s popularity to regain political relevance, stressing that many Nigerians still hold positive memories of his administration and leadership style.
According to him, the former president remains the most suitable candidate for the current political climate, arguing that Jonathan’s experience, national appeal and democratic credentials continue to resonate across different sections of the country.
Sani also maintained that any legal challenge against Jonathan’s eligibility to contest the presidency again would not succeed, insisting that the constitutional debate surrounding the issue had long been settled judicially. Jonathan served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015 before losing the 2015 presidential election to former President Muhammadu Buhari.