ABUJA — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be plotting a dramatic political comeback for former President Goodluck Jonathan, with senior party officials hinting at the possibility of granting him an automatic ticket to contest the 2027 presidential election.
This revelation came during an exclusive interview with Daniel Woyengikuro, the PDP’s National Financial Secretary, who described Jonathan as the party’s true national leader and a unifying figure capable of salvaging Nigeria’s current challenges.
“Is he not the best candidate for us at this moment?” Woyengikuro asked. “He is not just a former president; he is the leader of the party now. Aside from [former President Olusegun] Obasanjo, the next person in line is him. Goodluck Jonathan is the national leader of this party.”
Woyengikuro disclosed that the party has been in ongoing consultations with Jonathan and his close allies, seeking to draw him back into the party’s mainstream leadership. He suggested Jonathan’s return could be central to PDP’s 2027 strategy to reposition itself as a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Nigeria has reached a point where we need to salvage this country — for our generation and those to come,” he said. “When we talk about a Southern Presidency, someone like Goodluck Jonathan stands out.”
When asked if the PDP would consider granting Jonathan an automatic ticket, Woyengikuro was emphatic: “For me, that’s what I firmly stand for. You can quote me anywhere — I want him to come. An automatic ticket for him, as it stands now. Because we must salvage both this party and the nation.”
He argued that Jonathan’s return would significantly reshape the political terrain ahead of the 2027 elections and give the PDP a strong chance at reclaiming power.
Woyengikuro also threw his weight behind Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, describing him as a dynamic and youthful leader who represents the future of the party and the country.
“These are the two main individuals I stand for: Goodluck Jonathan and Seyi Makinde,” he said.
With internal consultations expected to intensify in the coming months, the PDP appears to be weighing bold moves in its quest to regain national relevance — and Jonathan’s potential comeback could be the party’s biggest political play yet.
Comments