Former Minister of Information and Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, has confirmed that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the 2027 presidential election under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Gana made the revelation on Saturday while speaking with journalists shortly after the PDP’s Niger State Congress held in Minna. According to him, the growing dissatisfaction with successive governments since Jonathan left office in 2015 has sparked nationwide calls for his return.

“In 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of Nigerians. After him, another President ruled for eight years, and now another has ruled for two years. Nigerians have seen the difference, and the difference is very clear. Nigerians are now asking us to bring back our friend, former President Goodluck Jonathan,” Gana said.

The elder statesman, a founding figure in the PDP, emphatically declared:

“I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as PDP candidate, and we should be prepared to vote for him to return as President again.”

Gana also used the occasion to assure party loyalists and Nigerians that the PDP is battle-ready for the next general elections. He dismissed suggestions of a divided house, stating that earlier internal disagreements within the party had been resolved.

“When there was a near crisis in the party, the founding fathers convened a consultative conference in Abuja and addressed all the issues. We are now prepared for the task ahead in 2027,” he stated confidently.

Describing the PDP as “truly democratic and grassroots-oriented,” Gana lauded the party’s history of empowering Nigerians to freely choose their leaders. He emphasized that the PDP’s enduring popularity stems from its people-centred policies.

He further called on Nigerians to “shine their eyes” ahead of the 2027 elections and vote out what he described as the current administration’s “poor leadership” in favour of a return to “good governance” under Jonathan.

The Niger State PDP Congress held on Saturday also saw the emergence of new party executives. Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed Halidu was elected the new State Chairman with 1,289 votes, narrowly defeating the Zonal Chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Abdullahi (popularly known as “Ability”), who polled 1,269 votes.

Other winners included:

• Alhaji Khadi Kuta, returned unopposed as State Secretary;

• Mrs. Salome Ndakosu, who emerged as Woman Leader with 1,373 votes, defeating Ramotu Jibrin, who scored 590 votes.

The state congress was hailed as peaceful and transparent, a signal, party leaders say, of PDP’s internal stability and readiness for national leadership once again.

Gana’s bold announcement regarding Jonathan’s return to presidential politics is already generating political reactions across the country. While the PDP has not officially confirmed Jonathan’s candidacy, Gana’s stature within the party lends significant weight to the claim.

If the former president does indeed return to the race, it will mark an extraordinary political comeback attempt, more than a decade after he left office following his defeat to then-candidate Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

Political analysts say Jonathan’s entry into the race could dramatically reshape the 2027 political landscape, potentially splitting the southern vote or altering the dynamics between the PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Meanwhile, several PDP supporters on social media have welcomed the development, describing Jonathan as a “stabilizing figure” and praising his past tenure for fostering democratic freedoms, economic growth, and relative national unity.

Despite Gana’s assurance, Goodluck Jonathan himself has not publicly declared his intention to contest. In past interviews, the former president has remained noncommittal about a return, often citing his desire for peace and his role as an elder statesman on the African continent.

However, signs have emerged in recent months that he is re-engaging politically. He has increased his public appearances, granted more interviews, and met with key PDP stakeholders behind closed doors.

As the PDP prepares for 2027, the focus now shifts to reconciling national ambitions with regional expectations. With increasing talk of zoning and power rotation, questions remain about whether the party will throw its ticket open or stick to a regional formula.

 

Regardless of how it unfolds, Professor Jerry Gana’s declaration has added fuel to the speculation and energized PDP supporters across the country.

 

For now, all eyes remain on former President Jonathan — and whether he will indeed answer the call to return to Aso Rock.