ABUJA – Hundreds of Nigerians on Thursday stormed the Abuja residence of former President Goodluck Ebelle Jonathan, mounting pressure on the former Nigerian leader to join the 2027 presidential race amid growing political speculation over his possible return to power.
The crowd, made up of different groups of Nigerians, chanted solidarity songs and openly declared support for Jonathan, insisting that the country needed his leadership experience at a critical period in its political and economic history.
Many of the supporters carried placards urging the former President to heed what they described as a “national call” to contest the 2027 election, pledging to mobilise support across the country should he eventually declare his intention.
The development came against the backdrop of a legal battle seeking to bar Jonathan from participating in the next presidential election.
A Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to hear a suit today Friday, challenging the eligibility of the former President to contest the 2027 poll.
At the centre of the litigation is the constitutional debate over whether Jonathan has exhausted the maximum number of years allowed for a Nigerian president under the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Jonathan first assumed office in May 2010 following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and subsequently won the 2011 presidential election, serving until May 2015 after losing his re-election bid to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Plaintiffs in the suit are expected to argue that Jonathan’s combined years in office amount to the constitutional limit permitted for a president, while supporters of the former leader insist he remains eligible to seek another mandate.
Although Jonathan has yet to publicly declare interest in the 2027 race, the renewed calls by supporters are likely to intensify political discussions ahead of the next general election.
The former President Jonathan, in his quick response thanked them for the call and solidarity but, urged them to be peaceful and put their demand through the electoral process by registering to get their valid voters cards as eligible Nigerian voters.
