Dare Babalola
Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, has raised doubts over former President Goodluck Jonathan’s chances of contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Okorie warned that time, party rules, and legal constraints may already be working against any such ambition.
The former presidential candidate spoke in an interview with NEWSTELLERS on Thursday while reacting to renewed calls for Jonathan to join the race, insisting that the former president’s political pathway is far more complicated than public enthusiasm suggests.
His comments come amid growing political speculation following Jonathan’s recent response to youth groups who urged him to return to active politics.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier told supporters that he would not rush into any decision regarding the 2027 election, stressing the need for wide consultations.
“I’ve heard you loud and clear. I will consult widely before taking any decision,” Jonathan said while addressing youth groups who visited him in Abuja.
The former president, who left office in 2015, has continued to attract calls from some political actors and youth groups to re-enter the presidential race.
Reacting, Okorie questioned both the feasibility and timing of such consultations, noting that electoral rules and party affiliation issues could make a comeback difficult.
He said, “I’ve not seen it to know the context in which he said that, because I am aware that he may not be favourably disposed to going to contest. Which party will he use to contest?”
According to him, Jonathan remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and any switch to another platform would require strict compliance with electoral laws.
“He’s a member of the PDP. Is he going to resign from the PDP that made him president and go to another party? And even if he does, is he going to contest on a PDP platform that is still in crisis with unresolved court issues?”
Okorie also questioned whether a return to partisan politics aligns with Jonathan’s current status as a statesman.
“Is it right for him, having left office gloriously and attained such heights internationally and at home, as a renowned statesman, to go back into the muddy waters of politics?”
The APGA founding chairman further argued that timing could be Jonathan’s biggest obstacle, stressing that electoral regulations require early alignment with a political party.
“If he is consulting, he will be consulting late. He is already a card-carrying member of the PDP, and to leave and join another party and still be eligible to contest, his name must be on that party’s register before the deadline. That is INEC guideline and electoral law.”
He added that even within the PDP, lingering crises could make a comeback politically risky.
“These are issues that make me believe he may not be serious about it. Perhaps people are just trying to use his name to get political advantage.”
Okorie concluded that while Jonathan remains a respected figure in Nigerian politics, a return to the ballot may ultimately remain unlikely.
“If he throws his hat into the ring, I will be surprised. It would be a very big matter. I don’t see what to make out of it.”
