Abuja, August 30, 2025 — Former President Goodluck Jonathan is reportedly considering a presidential bid under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 elections, insiders have revealed.
According to sources who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune, Jonathan is conflicted about his political future, torn between his longstanding loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and mounting pressure from ADC leaders who see him as their best chance at the presidency.
A close associate disclosed that Jonathan fears the PDP remains heavily influenced by forces “with strong links to the Villa,” raising doubts about whether he would be given a fair chance if he sought the party’s ticket.
“Former President Goodluck Jonathan is worried that certain persons with strong links to the Villa may still be in control of the PDP and may mess him up if he seeks the ticket of that party,” the source said.
Concerns Over Obi Factor
While the ADC has reportedly offered to restructure its zoning arrangement to favour Jonathan by ceding the presidential ticket to the South, the former president is said to be reluctant about a contest that would place him against Labour Party’s Peter Obi.
Jonathan, according to sources, believes Obi enjoys overwhelming support from the Igbo, a group that strongly backed him in 2015 — sometimes even more than his own Ijaw people.
“His only issue with the ADC is that he does not want to contest against Peter Obi because he believes that the Igbo people supported him in 2015 even more than his own Ijaw people,” the insider added.
ADC’s Strategy
ADC leaders, however, insist Jonathan’s entry would transform their prospects in 2027. One senior party figure confirmed the party’s readiness to zone the presidency to the South if Jonathan joins, but warned that the North would be their fallback if he declines.
“If he chooses our party, we will zone the presidency to the South. If he does not come to us, we will have no option than to go to the North because politics is about numbers and winning,” the source concluded.
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