Key points

• Jonathan’s allies want him as the strongest Southern challenger.

• Peter Obi is under pressure to back Jonathan.

• Legal battles over Jonathan’s eligibility could reshape the race.

Allies of former President Goodluck Jonathan are stepping up moves to draft him into the 2027 presidential race.

Their aim is simple: build a united front to stop President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The APC has already lined up behind Tinubu for a second term. On the other side, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is working toward zoning its ticket to the South.

That has set the stage for a battle dominated by Southern contenders.

Northern PDP figures have been mounting pressure on Jonathan to throw his hat in the ring.

At the same time, some party leaders have been reaching out to former Anambra governor Peter Obi, urging him to return to the PDP after leaving for the Labour Party in 2022.

Peter Obi weighs coalition options

Obi, who ran under the Labour Party in 2023 and gained huge support, has been linked to talks with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The group includes heavyweights like Rotimi Amaechi, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Nasir el-Rufai.

When asked about his next move, Obi has said he supports any plan that will strengthen the opposition and give Nigerians an alternative to the APC. He has also continued to voice sharp criticism of Tinubu’s government.

Sources say Jonathan’s camp has reached out to Obi, asking him to step down for the former president.

While some reports claim the two men have already met, close associates of Obi insist no such meeting has happened.

They maintain he is still focused on his own mission to “rescue Nigeria.”

Eligibility questions may shape 2027 race

Jonathan’s supporters argue that he is the best option from the South. They point out that he can only serve one term if elected, which would keep the North-South rotation principle alive. Obi has also said he would run for only one term if elected.

But the bigger question is whether Jonathan is even eligible to contest. A 2018 constitutional amendment bars anyone sworn in twice as president from running again.

Jonathan first took office in 2010 after Yar’Adua’s death and later won in 2011. He lost his reelection in 2015.

Some legal experts say the amendment doesn’t apply to him because it was signed into law years after he left office.

Others argue the rule is clear and that the PDP would risk a court battle if it fields him. Many analysts warn that such a case could derail the opposition if it drags on after the election.