2027: Presidency Cautions Jonathan — “Don’t Fall For Politicians Using You For Selfish Agenda

The Presidency has cautioned former President Goodluck Jonathan against yielding to pressure from certain figures within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who are allegedly pushing him to contest the 2027 presidential election on the party’s platform.

This comes after former Minister of Information and Orientation, Jerry Gana, publicly declared that Jonathan would be on the PDP ticket in 2027.

Reacting in a statement on Monday, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said while Jonathan was free to join the race, both the courts and Nigerians would ultimately judge his eligibility and track record.

Onanuga accused opposition politicians of attempting to lure Jonathan into the race purely for selfish political, ethnic, and religious interests.

He said:
“Former President Jonathan is welcome to the race, but Nigerians will not forget his dismal record in office. He will have his day in court, where the jury will determine if he is constitutionally eligible to run after being sworn in twice as president.

“They merely want to drag him into the race to serve their own agenda. In the end, they will abandon him and leave Gentleman Jonathan stranded.”

Onanuga dismissed Gana’s comments as “absurd,” adding:
“Prof. Gana of MAMSER fame can continue to delude himself; after all, Jonathan’s candidacy would only provide him with another job.”

The presidential aide further accused opposition figures of prematurely overheating the polity ahead of 2027, describing their antics as “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

He also took a swipe at Jonathan’s economic record, recalling that the former leader inherited $66 billion in reserves and savings in 2010 but left office in 2015 with less than $30 billion in foreign reserves and a depleted Excess Crude Account of $2 billion, despite record oil revenues.

Onanuga said:
“By December 2014, the Jonathan administration could no longer pay salaries, with at least 28 states owing workers.

“Today, under Tinubu, the GDP has grown by 4.23% in just over two years — the highest in four years. Inflation has dropped to 20.12% as of August 2025, the lowest in three years. Foreign reserves now stand at $42.03 billion, the Naira is stabilising, and investor confidence in Nigeria has been restored.