By Muhammad Mamman
Former President Goodluck Jonathan is pressing ahead with plans to re-enter the 2027 presidential race, despite public opposition from his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan.
Earlier this year, while receiving the Women Icon Leader of the Year Award in Abuja, Mrs Jonathan voiced her frustration with the pressures of high office. She questioned why anyone who had once been president would seek a return, declaring her desire for “peace” and even pledging to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in 2027.
Insiders, however, insist her stance has not deterred the former president. Jonathan is said to be deepening consultations at home and abroad, consolidating support within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and working to clear obstacles to his comeback bid.
The Wike Factor
One significant challenge facing Jonathan is Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike. In a recent media chat, Wike bluntly urged Jonathan to shelve his ambitions, warning that another run could diminish his stature as an elder statesman. He accused some of Jonathan’s current promoters of hypocrisy, recalling how many distanced themselves from him during the 2015 election.
Jonathan’s loyalists reportedly view Wike’s stance as a serious threat. According to sources, strategy sessions held abroad have centred on neutralising Wike’s influence within the PDP.
“Wike’s opposition cannot be taken lightly, which is why some of our meetings have been about ensuring he does not become a stumbling block,” one insider told POLITICS NIGERIA.
To consolidate his base, Jonathan is said to have tasked his inner circle—coordinated by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed—with strengthening party unity. His camp has also reportedly persuaded Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri to remain in the PDP, resisting overtures from the APC that could have weakened Jonathan’s clout in the South-South.
Legal and Domestic Questions
A recurring debate around Jonathan’s potential candidacy is whether he remains constitutionally eligible, having previously been sworn in as president twice. His supporters have circulated a court ruling affirming that he is not barred from contesting, effectively shutting down legal objections.
On the domestic front, allies dismiss Dame Patience Jonathan’s disapproval as inconsequential, recalling her past resistance to his elevation from Bayelsa governor to vice-president in 2007—a move that did not stop his political rise.
