Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has said he will undertake extensive consultations before deciding whether to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing the race for the nation’s highest office as a serious responsibility that requires careful reflection.
Jonathan made the remarks on Thursday while receiving youth groups who visited his office in Abuja to urge him to return to the presidential race.
Responding to the calls, the former president said he appreciated the confidence reposed in him by the groups but would not make a hasty political decision.
According to him, leadership and governance demand deep thought and broad consultations, insisting that seeking the presidency “is not a computer game.”
Jonathan noted that he had listened to the appeals made by the youth groups and would take time to engage widely before announcing any position on the matter.
The Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to hear a suit on Friday filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to declare Jonathan ineligible to contest the 2027 election.
In the suit, Jideobi argued that Jonathan had already exceeded the constitutional limit for occupying the office of President and should therefore be barred from seeking re-election.
The plaintiff is also asking the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a candidate in the forthcoming election.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president between 2010 and 2015, has remained a prominent political figure on the African continent, often playing mediatory and diplomatic roles in regional affairs since leaving office.
