The Nigerian Presidency has issued a strong warning to former President Goodluck Jonathan amid rumors of his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election. In a statement released by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the government welcomed Jonathan’s right to run but cautioned that Nigerians would be reluctant to "hand back power to the man who broke the economy."
Onanuga condemned Jonathan’s record in office, accusing his administration of economic mismanagement that led to the country’s current financial struggles. The spokesman noted that while it is Jonathan's inalienable constitutional right to contest, his eligibility remains a matter for the courts to decide because he has already been sworn in twice, raising constitutional questions about running for a third term.
The statement took direct aim at former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, who publicly endorsed Jonathan’s candidacy, calling him misguided and warned that some People’s Democratic Party (PDP) figures who support Jonathan might abandon him midstream as they allegedly did in 2015.
Highlighting public sentiment, the presidency emphasized that Nigerians "will not allow those who wrecked the economy before to run it down again." The spokesman urged voters to consider Jonathan’s six-year tenure, which ended in 2015, as evidence of a failed economic legacy.
While the PDP continues to grapple with internal positioning for the 2027 elections, the presidency’s message serves as a political blow aimed at defining the narrative around Jonathan’s potential comeback.
This stern warning signals mounting tension as Nigeria gears up for what promises to be a highly contested presidential race in 2027.