By Beifoh Osewele Rapheal
By Beifoh Osewele
Plot to draft former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, into the presidential race in 2027 is thickening and gaining traction by the minute in the Northern region.
At press time, scores of groups have reportedly held several meetings and sensitisation tours to gauge the mood in key Northern states, citing Jonathan鈥檚 perceived record as a unifier and a 鈥渓eader who sacrificed personal ambition to protect Nigeria鈥檚 democracy.鈥
Pundits said Jonathan, who left office in 2015 after conceding defeat to President Muhammadu Buhari, retains a measure of goodwill among sections of the political elite and grassroots, especially for his decision to prioritise national stability over personal ambition.
Though still informal and largely driven by interest groups and some influential political figures, the push to convince Jonathan to throw his hat into the political ring is stirring fresh debate with pundits positing that it reflects both nostalgia and strategic calculations in parts of the North.
While the former president has maintained a studied silence on the issue, the Northern Youth Alliance for Jonathan has launched a series of town hall meetings in states such as Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina, aimed at selling the idea to the next generation of voters.
Meanwhile, the Jonathan Solidarity Forum has also begun discreet engagement with Southern political actors to reassure them that the push is not an attempt by the North to dominate, but rather a pragmatic move to restore political equilibrium.
Proponents of the draft movement argue that the former president鈥檚 return could help 鈥渉eal the nation鈥檚 divisions,鈥 pointing to increasing ethnic and religious polarisation, economic hardship, and widespread disillusionment with the current political class.
鈥淭here is also a pragmatic angle: some Northern politicians reportedly see Jonathan as a bridge figure who, having served only one full term, remains eligible for a single term in office. This, in theory, would create space for a North-South power rotation in 2031 without a prolonged stay in power by the South,鈥 a youth leader, Ahmed Muhammad said.
Figures reportedly active in the coalition of support groups include some former Northern governors who had previously supported him in 2011, a handful of serving National Assembly members, and youth activists who argue that a return to Jonathan could stabilise national politics at a time of deepening economic hardship and rising insecurity
Within the wider political landscape, the move could reshape existing alignments. Jonathan is formally a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but there have been persistent rumours about a new coalition party.
鈥淥ur expectation is that the Coalition adopts Jonathan as its candidate. He stands a better chance to defeat President Tinubu at the polls than any of the aspirants, due to his acceptability in the core Northern states鈥 a political analyst, Salisu Ibrahim said.
He explained that for Northern politicians hoping to preserve the long-standing informal zoning arrangement, where power rotates between North and South, this scenario could be appealing: Jonathan鈥檚 presidency would, by definition, end in 2031, allowing the North to legitimately reclaim the slot thereafter.
Supporters also highlight what they call Jonathan鈥檚 inclusive governance style, relative peace during much of his tenure (excluding the Boko Haram insurgency鈥檚 peak years), and his statesmanlike decision to accept defeat in 2015, which many credit with preventing large-scale post-election violence.