The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum has strongly criticized calls within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election. The South-West socio-political group described such an idea as “lawless, confusing, and constitutionally untenable.” According to the group’s president, Akin Malaolu, Jonathan has already reached the constitutional limit of holding the office of President, having served out the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s term and subsequently winning a full four-year term in 2011.
Malaolu emphasized that Jonathan’s initial swearing-in after Yar’Adua’s death in 2010 conferred upon him the status of a substantive President. The Forum warned that fielding Jonathan as a candidate would plunge the PDP into a deeper crisis and leave it vulnerable to legal disputes that could deny it a valid ticket at the polls. If the PDP proceeds with this move, the Forum would not hesitate to mobilize legal action.
Other prominent figures, including lawyers Kolawole Esan and Yomi Ogunlola, as well as scholar Prof. Labode Popoola, have also faulted calls for Jonathan’s presidential bid. They questioned his eligibility, citing his having taken the oath of office twice.
However, in a recent statement, Jonathan criticized Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo (SAN) and legal scholar Prof. Chidi Odinkalu for opposing his speculated 2027 presidential ambition. He warned them to stay away from his political decisions, stressing that his eligibility was not in doubt and that he did not need unsolicited advice.
The debate surrounding Jonathan’s potential presidential bid continues to generate heated discussions. While some argue that he is constitutionally barred from contesting, others believe he has the capacity to sustain current policies. One thing is certain, however: the PDP’s decision on this matter will have significant implications for the party’s future.
