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Will Goodluck Jonathan Trust the PDP Again for 2027 Presidential Election?

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is mounting pressure on former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election on its platform, but Jonathan has yet to confirm his ambition. The PDP hopes to use Jonathan's popularity and acceptance in the North to regain power in 2027, but many doubt the authenticity of the claims due to the allegations and counter-allegations of betrayal that trailed his defeat in 2015.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PDP is persuading Jonathan, ex-Labour Party's presidential candidate Peter Obi, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to join the 2027 presidential race on its platform.
  • Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, stated that the party's move to woo Jonathan is in response to growing calls from Nigerians who believe his past administration was not appreciated.
  • A founding member of the PDP, Prof. Jerry Gana, said that the PDP has somebody better than Peter Obi, leading many to believe he was referring to Jonathan.
  • The PDP's zoning of 2027 to the South clears the way for Jonathan to contest the presidential ticket on its platform.
  • Jonathan has yet to officially confirm any ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election.
  • Media reports claimed that Jonathan met with former Nigerian military president General Ibrahim Babangida to seek his support for the presidency.
  • The current attempt to lure Jonathan into the presidential race is not the first attempt since he lost power in 2015.
  • Jonathan felt betrayed by the PDP in the 2015 presidential election, while others accused him of not keeping to an unwritten agreement to do only one term.
  • Jonathan alleged that PDP leaders in the north, including the then National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, worked against him in favor of Buhari in the 2015 general election.

Statistics:

  • The PDP has been weakened since Jonathan lost power in 2015.
  • Many Nigerians believe that the high level of insecurity and economic hardship inflicted on them by APC-led administrations has brightened Jonathan's chances of return to power.
  • The PDP's grassroots popularity and size were not diminished by the loss of the 2015 presidential election, according to Jonathan in 2017.
  • PDP did not bounce back as Jonathan predicted in 2017, rather suffering further internal crises and depletion of its fortunes in the 2019 general election.

Sources:

  • ARISE NEWS, an interview with Prof. Jerry Gana, quoted "In the northern states, Peter Obi under the PDP will defeat any candidate because our people are very fair-minded and just."
  • A post on Adamu Muazu's Facebook page in April 2017, denying allegations of conspiracy against Jonathan.
  • The book "Against the Run of Play" by Segun Adeniyi, where Jonathan alleged that he was betrayed by PDP leaders in the north.
  • A July 2022 speech by Chief Edwin Clark, explaining that Jonathan no longer associated with the PDP due to betrayal and ill-treatment in 2015.

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