Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that he will consult widely before deciding whether to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing Nigeria’s presidential race as “not a computer game.”
Jonathan made the remarks on Thursday while receiving youth groups who visited his Abuja office to urge him to return to the presidential race.
“You are asking me to come and contest the next election. Presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you and I’ll consult widely,” the former president said.
The former president commended the youths for their interest in national affairs, describing patriotism as essential to nation-building.
“If you have no interest in the country, you will not bother to be here,” he added.
Jonathan used the occasion to voice concerns about Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly the country’s low voter turnout, which he described as one of the poorest in Africa.
“I’ve observed elections in about 14 or more African countries and even Southeast Asia. Nigeria has the lowest turnout in every election cycle,” Jonathan stated.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to engage consultants to investigate the causes of low voter participation.
The former president also challenged the visiting youths to actively participate in the electoral process by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and voting.
“If I ask how many of you have your voter’s card now, probably 50% of you don’t have your voter’s card. And you’re asking me to go and contest the election. So you must participate in the electoral process,” he said.
Jonathan also urged young Nigerians to promote peace and credible elections, warning that the absence of transparent electoral processes discourages competent citizens from participating in politics.
“The key thing we need in this country is peace,” he said. “You continue to advocate for that. And you continue to advocate for peaceful and credible elections in the country. Because if we don’t have peaceful and credible elections, most good citizens will not want to bother to get involved in politics.”
Looking Ahead to 2027
The former president reiterated that he has only listened to the appeal from the youth groups and will continue consultations before making any political decision regarding 2027.
“I will consult. I cannot just wake up and say I want to be the president of Nigeria again. But I am telling you that I will consult. If there is a need to, I will wait,” Jonathan stated.
Background: How Jonathan Lost the 2015 Election
Goodluck Jonathan’s defeat in the 2015 presidential election marked a historic turning point in Nigeria’s democracy—the first time an incumbent president lost a re-election bid and peacefully transferred power to the opposition.
In the March 28, 2015 election, Jonathan, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured 12,853,162 votes, while his main challenger, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 15,424,921 votes . The margin of defeat was 2,571,759 votes .
Several analysts and political figures have pointed to internal divisions within the PDP as a major factor in Jonathan’s defeat. In August 2013, seven PDP governors—Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), and Sule Lamido (Jigawa)—staged a walkout from the party’s national convention .
While two of them remained in the PDP, five eventually defected to the newly formed APC, significantly weakening the ruling party’s stronghold . According to vote analysis, if these five states’ votes had remained with the PDP, Jonathan would still have lost, but the defections signaled a major political realignment .
Jonathan himself later attributed his defeat partly to the “selfish ambitions” of some governors who had served eight years and were eyeing higher office. “If I contested, none could realize his ambition,” he wrote in his book, “My Transition Hours” .
Political Issues Used Against Him
Speaking at the launch of his book in November 2018, Jonathan revealed that his opponents weaponized several national issues during the campaign, including the Boko Haram insurgency, the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, and the fuel subsidy regime .
“Some people even said I brought Boko Haram to reduce the voting population of the North so that I will win the election,” Jonathan disclosed .
The Historic Concession
Despite pressure from some loyalists to challenge the results, Jonathan made a historic phone call to Buhari on March 31, 2015, before the final results were fully collated, to concede defeat .
According to Olusegun Adeniyi’s book, “Against the Run of Play,” three key aides—Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke, Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka, and Special Assistant Warpamo-Owei Dudafa—knelt before Jonathan to persuade him to make the concession call .
Jonathan later explained his reasoning: “In 2011 when Buhari did not campaign anywhere and could not have won the election, there was spontaneous violent reaction that led to death of several innocent people… I asked myself what would happen… I could not bear the thought of anybody dying, so I told myself I had only one option and that was to concede” .
His concession speech included the now-famous line: “Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian” .
Adding to the dramatic transition, Jonathan sacked the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, less than six weeks before leaving office on April 21, 2015. No official reason was given, though critics suggested the move might have been politically motivated . Abba was replaced with Solomon Arase as acting police chief .
Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat has been widely praised as an act of statesmanship that saved Nigeria from potential political crisis . Former President of ECOWAS, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, noted that “That single act saved shedding of innocent blood” .
In a surprising twist, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—who had helped lead the opposition coalition that unseated Jonathan—stated in February 2026 that he regretted being part of the effort to remove Jonathan from power, suggesting that the situation under subsequent governments had become “far worse” than before .
Discussion about this post