A fresh debate has erupted in Nigeria’s political space over whether former President Goodluck Jonathan can legally contest the 2027 presidential election.

While loyalists argue that Jonathan remains the most credible candidate to rescue Nigeria, critics insist that constitutional limits on the number of times a person can be sworn in as president disqualify him, having already taken the oath twice.

This week, the presidency waded into the controversy with scathing remarks on Jonathan’s possible candidacy, dismissing those urging him to run as “cheerleaders” seeking to lure him into the race for personal, political, religious, and ethnic gains.

“Jonathan will have his date in court. The jury will determine whether Jonathan, who was sworn in twice as president, satisfies constitutional requirements and is eligible to contest the presidency and be sworn in, if successful, for a third term,” Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said on Monday.

But on Thursday, speaking on Nigeria Daily, a Daily Trust podcast, Ambassador Josephine Washima, Jonathan’s former adviser on job creation, described the calls for his return as “a noble move”, arguing that Nigerians have come to better appreciate his tenure.

“It’s a very noble call. Some of us are elated, not just because we worked with him, but because Nigerians have seen through the propaganda and lies that were packaged against him. They now know the truth about what he did and what he tried to do,” Washima said.

She dismissed arguments that Jonathan is barred from running, citing a 2018 Federal High Court ruling in Bayelsa.

“If you do a little research, you’ll notice that a Federal High Court in Bayelsa has already put that question to rest. Laws are not retrospective, and since the person who went to court didn’t appeal, it means he is actually very clear and very viable to contest,” she said.

In the same vein, Hon. Yahya Ability, outgoing PDP vice chairman in Niger State, said Jonathan remains the “most acceptable candidate” from the South if the PDP maintains its zoning arrangement.

“Among stakeholders, I am one of those who went to Mr Jonathan to ask him to contest. After our last meeting, we agreed the presidency should go to the South while the party leadership remains in the North. Jonathan has already ruled for four years, so he has four years left to complete the cycle. It’s only fair,” he explained.

Legal experts, however, caution that the matter cannot be settled by politics alone. Barrister Yusuf Mutumbi, a constitutional lawyer, said the law is clear.

“The 1999 Constitution, as amended, says a person can be sworn into the office of the president twice. Jonathan’s first swearing-in in 2010 was only to complete the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, not as an elected president. His first elected tenure began in 2011. So, constitutionally, he can still contest one more time,” Mutumbi explained.

He added that the 2018 constitutional amendment may complicate matters, though it may not apply retrospectively.

“Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended in 2018, bars anyone who has been sworn in twice as president from contesting again. But that amendment came after Jonathan left office, so it does not affect him. The law is not retroactive,” he said.

On his part, Barrister Abba Hikima, in a chat with BBC Hausa, said that Section 137 (3) of the Constitution is still a subject of debate among lawyers, with some believing that the principle of “the law does not look back (retroactive)” only applies to serious criminal cases.

“They believe that in other cases involving trademark transactions, the law can be retrospective,” he said.

“But in my opinion, unless the law itself says it will look back, it won’t,” he explained.

He added that this is the principle “because if there is to be a retrospective law, then the law will provide for that,” but quickly added that this is left for the Supreme Court to interpret and make a final pronouncement.

Beyond legal arguments, analysts say the bigger question is whether Jonathan still has the political machinery to succeed in today’s environment.

David West, a Bayelsa-based political analyst, told Daily Trust that Jonathan’s return could reshape the 2027 race but warned it may also diminish his legacy if he loses.

“Jonathan’s candidacy would change the political scenario because many Nigerians still admire him. But the PDP is weak, and our politics is now heavily monetised. If he contests and loses, it will diminish his reputation, and he might even face political harassment. My advice is that he should remain the respected diplomat he is today,” West argued.

Calls for Jonathan’s return have recently grown, particularly from the North, as coalition efforts to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 intensify. Several PDP leaders, including former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, have publicly urged him to run. At the weekend, former Information Minister Professor Jerry Gana went further, declaring that Jonathan would contest and defeat the ruling APC in 2027.

Last week, Jonathan visited African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Chairman Senator David Mark at his Abuja residence. Mark, a former Senate president, served during Jonathan’s administration between 2010 and 2015. While the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, told Daily Trust the visit was private, observers believe it was tied to 2027 permutations, with the ADC said to be weighing Jonathan’s acceptability.

Jonathan, who lost his re-election bid to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, is believed to be showing renewed interest in politics. Though he has yet to declare formally, his appeal, according to insiders, lies in the constitutional term-limit provision that allows him to serve only one more term — a prospect viewed as a strategic option in balancing the power rotation debate between North and South. (Daily Trust)

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