A coalition of political heavyweights in Nigeria is quietly seeking to draft former President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential contest, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Key figures including former Senate President David Mark and ex-Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai are expected to meet Jonathan within days to persuade him to consider a return. The move, described by insiders as “carefully coordinated”, is part of wider efforts to position the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the coalition’s platform, with Mark tipped to serve as interim national chairman.
Efforts to bring Jonathan on board have included reconciling rival factions in his home state, Bayelsa. Two former governors of the state and a senior official at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), previously estranged, have reportedly settled their differences. The NDDC official, once chief of staff to one of the ex-governors, is said to have played a pivotal role in the rapprochement.
While Jonathan’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, has publicly ruled out her husband running in 2027, the coalition’s supporters believe he could be persuaded. “Everyone understands the political stakes; the push is ongoing,” a source revealed.
Tensions have meanwhile risen in Bayelsa over Governor Douye Diri’s rumoured plans to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Diri is said to have secured the backing of the State Assembly for the move. However, senior federal legislators from the state, including Senator Henry Seriake Dickson and four House members, have rejected the defection bid, fearing it could undermine their positions.
One observer noted that for some of Jonathan’s former allies, joining the APC could bring legal risks or derail their political ambitions. Many instead see the proposed coalition as a safer, more unified alternative.
These manoeuvres come as Nigeria’s political landscape begins to shift ahead of the 2027 elections. Whether Jonathan ultimately accepts the invitation could have a decisive impact on the race.
