Umar Sani Reveals Why PDP Settled For Jonathan As Sole Presidential Candidate

A PDP chieftain, Umar Sani, said the choice was driven largely by what he described as widespread nostalgia among Nigerians for Jonathan’s time in office.

Sani made this known on Tuesday during an interview on Trust TV, where he explained that the party carefully considered voter sentiment across the country before arriving at the decision.

According to him, Jonathan, who governed Nigeria between 2010 and 2015, still enjoys strong goodwill from many citizens who remember his administration positively.

He said the PDP believes Jonathan remains electorally attractive because of the public perception and memories associated with his presidency.

Sani stated, “We have to look at the interests of our voters all over the country and look at how we can penetrate those voters and be able to get them to support us.

“One of the interests is to have one term as a president, and it will appeal to a certain category of voters. It is, of course, in our interest to project that.

“Nevertheless, the most important reason why we brought Jonathan is because of the nostalgia that Nigerians have for him.”

The PDP chieftain added that many Nigerians frequently compare current economic conditions with those experienced during Jonathan’s administration.

He said such comparisons continue to shape public perception and influence political conversations.

Sani noted, “If you meet an ordinary man on the street who was around during Jonathan’s period, he will tell you that a bag of rice was sold for ₦7,500 or ₦8,000.

“These are some of the memories and perceptions people still associate with him.”

He further explained that the party’s decision was aimed at strengthening its national appeal and improving its chances ahead of the 2027 elections.