Jonathan 2027: Lame Dancers and the Cheerleaders
The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has taken note of public remarks attributed to Prof. Jerry Gana – made after the PDP Niger State Congress in Minna – that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan “will contest” and should be “brought back” to the presidency in 2027.
While we respect the right of any party or individual to make political declarations and to canvass for support, Lagos APC wishes to remind Nigerians that elections are contests of ideas, competence and delivery – not nostalgia or recycled rhetoric.
Prof. Gana’s certainty that a particular individual “will” be the PDP candidate or that Nigerians are clamouring for a return to the past is premature and political theatre. We acknowledge and appreciate Prof. Gana’s sense of humor, which may be entertaining but is out of place in serious political discourse. It may also be interesting to interrogate his continued relevance, having been around the corridors of power forever without leaving behind any remarkable legacy of transformation or notable accomplishments.
More importantly, Prof. Gana’s so-called democratic credentials are highly questionable. By arrogating to himself the sole power to determine the presidential candidate of a whole political party, he has exposed the PDP’s chronic disdain for internal democracy and shown Nigerians once again that the party has learnt nothing from its many years of failure. Unlike the APC, which remains firmly committed to internal democracy and a transparent nomination process, the PDP and other opposition parties appear to be working towards already pre-determined ends as far as their presidential candidates are concerned.
The likes of Prof. Gana may well be advised not to unnecessarily heat up the polity by embarking on lawless campaigns before the official ban on electioneering is lifted, thereby underscoring once again their undemocratic credentials and disregard for due process.
The so-called cheerleaders will also do well to allow former President Jonathan to enjoy his retirement from public office in peace, rather than luring him into a final dance whose result is all too predictable. Indeed, if he chooses to run, President Jonathan will need more than an overdose of good luck to stand a chance. The landmines before him are numerous – legal, past records, and fundamental questions of capacity. The present managers of Aso Villa should kindly and urgently freight whatever former President Jonathan may have forgotten at the State House to forestall the temptation of a return. Perhaps this development presents an opportunity to restate that Nigerians forgave all his pitfalls for his untainted democratic credentials, particularly his conduct during the 2015 electoral process. That legacy should be protected at all costs.
Since 2023, Nigerians have been witnessing major policy shifts and bold reforms aimed at revitalising the economy, attracting investment, and expanding social interventions. Lagos APC stands firmly behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda to fix the economy and build infrastructure that creates jobs and improves lives. We will continue to defend policies that prioritise the future over the past.
The APC in Lagos calls on all political actors – including the PDP and its chieftains – to desist from divisive nostalgia and instead present clear, implementable programmes for the challenges Nigerians actually face: food security, power, transport, security and youth employment. If the PDP truly believes Mr. Jonathan is the solution, they should lay out specific, detailed policy proposals and submit them for public scrutiny rather than making pronouncements that sound like campaign hype.
Finally, Lagos APC urges voters to judge parties by records and plans. We will continue to work across Lagos and Nigeria to promote pragmatic governance, development and inclusion – and to hold all parties to account for promises made to Nigerians.
Mogaji (Hon) Seye Oladejo
Lagos APC Spokesman
30/09/25
