KEY POINTS

• Goodluck Jonathan said he will consult widely before deciding on a 2027 presidential bid.
• He urged Nigerian youths to obtain voter cards and participate actively in elections.
• Jonathan expressed concern over Nigeria’s low voter turnout and called for peaceful, credible elections.

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has said he will consult widely before deciding whether to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Jonathan made the statement on Thursday while receiving members of youth organisations at his office in Abuja. The groups had urged him to return to the presidential race ahead of the next general election.

‘Presidential Race Is Not a Game’

Responding to the calls for him to run, Jonathan said becoming president is a serious responsibility that requires careful planning and consultations.

“You are asking me to come and contest the next election. Presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you and I’ll consult widely,” he said.

He stressed that he could not simply wake up and declare his intention to run without proper discussions and consultations.

The former president praised the youths for showing concern about the future of Nigeria, saying their involvement in national issues was a sign of patriotism.

He also encouraged young Nigerians to continue promoting peaceful and credible elections across the country.

According to him, many capable people avoid politics because of problems linked to flawed electoral processes.

Jonathan further challenged the youths to participate actively in elections by registering and obtaining their voter cards.

“If I ask how many of you have your voter’s card now, probably 50 per cent of you don’t have your voter’s card. And you’re asking me to go and contest the election,” he said.

Jonathan expressed concern about low voter turnout in Nigeria, describing it as one of the poorest he had seen compared to other countries where he had monitored elections.

He said active participation by citizens, especially young people, was necessary for democracy to work effectively.

The former president also linked the poor treatment of Nigerians abroad to years of leadership challenges in the country.