A political advocacy group, the National Coalition for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has intensified calls for the return of former Nigerian leader Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to the country’s political arena, urging him to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The group described the former president as “Nigeria’s only hope” and a unifying national figure capable of steering the country through its current political, economic, and security challenges.
The appeal was formally delivered on Wednesday in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, where members of the coalition staged a symbolic march to Jonathan’s residence in the Maitama district.
The delegation was led by the coalition’s National President, Dr. Tom Ohikere, alongside several supporters who said they represented millions of Nigerians across the country.
During the visit, the group presented a letter urging Jonathan to publicly declare his interest in contesting the presidency in the 2027 general elections.
Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, Ohikere said the appeal followed months of consultations conducted across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the message from citizens during those consultations was clear: many Nigerians want Jonathan to return to national leadership.
Reading excerpts from the letter sent to the former president, Ohikere said the coalition was speaking on behalf of Nigerians who believe the country needs experienced leadership at a time of growing national challenges.
Your Excellency, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR. I am humbled and privileged to lead a delegation representing millions of Nigerians from all 36 states to deliver this message to you.
Nigerians have asked us to plead with you to come to the rescue of our nation by declaring your interest in contesting for the presidency in 2027.
Ohikere said the coalition had spent the last six months consulting communities, political stakeholders, and civil society groups nationwide, adding that a consistent demand emerged from those engagements.
Everywhere we went, the call for the return of former President Goodluck Jonathan was loud and unmistakable, he said.
According to the coalition leader, many Nigerians are deeply concerned about the country’s current state, citing rising hardship, insecurity, and national disunity.
Ohikere also attempted to draw comparisons between Nigeria’s current economic climate and the period when Jonathan was in office.
“We know the price of a bag of rice. We know how many barrels of crude oil were exchanged for dollars during his administration,” he said.
“People remember what life was like then, and they can see the difference today.”
He expressed confidence that the former president could reverse the country’s current trajectory if given another opportunity to lead.
Goodluck Jonathan is a confirmed replacement for the messy situation we are facing today
Also speaking during the visit, the coalition’s National Secretary, Dr. Jibunusho Umetafa, said the call for Jonathan’s return was driven by widespread frustration among Nigerians over security and economic concerns.
He claimed that democratic values had weakened since the former president left office in 2015. It’s like when Mr Jonathan left, democracy left with him, Umetafa said.
He further described insecurity, displacement, and economic instability as major issues affecting citizens across the country.
People cannot sleep with their eyes closed anymore. Many communities have been destabilised, especially in the northern part of the country,” he said.
According to him, Jonathan’s leadership style could help restore confidence in governance and improve national stability.
Umetafa also stressed that many residents in northern Nigeria are particularly supportive of Jonathan’s possible return.
He noted that insecurity in the North-West region remains a major concern, arguing that the country needs a leader with experience, empathy, and the ability to unite diverse groups.
People are waiting for him, especially in the north, he said.
Another member of the coalition, Dr. Amodu Samson Abacha, highlighted Jonathan’s decision during the 2015 Nigerian presidential election to concede defeat to former President Muhammadu Buhari before the final results were officially announced.
The move was widely praised at the time for preventing potential political tension and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic reputation internationally.
Abacha described the gesture as evidence of Jonathan’s commitment to democratic principles and peaceful leadership.
That singular act showed the world that Nigeria’s democracy could mature through responsible leadership, he said.
The coalition member also noted that global political history contains several examples of former leaders returning to power after leaving office.
He argued that Jonathan’s previous experience as president, combined with what he described as a calm and inclusive leadership style, makes him a credible option for the country’s future.
Despite the appeal, the former president has not yet publicly indicated whether he will accept the call to run in the 2027 election.
However, members of the coalition said their campaign to persuade him will continue across the country until he makes a final decision.
They vowed to intensify mobilisation efforts nationwide, claiming that many Nigerians are prepared to support Jonathan should he eventually decide to contest the presidency.
The development adds another layer to early political conversations ahead of Nigeria’s next general elections, which political observers say could reshape the country’s leadership landscape
