The presidency says former President Goodluck Jonathan is free to contest the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on media and strategy, stated that while Jonathan is welcome to run, Nigerians will remember his “dismal record in office.”
The administration is reacting to claims made by Jerry Gana, a former minister of communication, who stated Jonathan would run for president in 2027 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Gana has stated that Jonathan would overcome Tinubu and restore power after 12 years.
Onanuga called Gana’s statement “absurd,” saying that Jonathan would be tricked by PDP figures into joining the race and then abandon it.
“Politicians of Jerry Gana’s ilk merely want to lure him into the race to satisfy their personal, political, religious, and ethnic interests,” the statement reads.
“They will abandon him midstream, as they did in 2015, and leave Gentleman Jonathan in the lurch.”
The presidential spokesperson said while Jonathan has the right to contest, the former president may have to face questions about his eligibility since he has been sworn in twice.
“President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he wishes. It is his inalienable right to contest the presidency again. President Tinubu will wholeheartedly welcome him if he decides to enter the race,” he said.
“But Jonathan will have his date in the court of the land. Indeed, the jury will determine whether Jonathan, who was sworn in twice as president, satisfies the constitutional requirements and is eligible to contest the presidency and be sworn in, if successful, for a third term in office.”
Onanuga accused Jonathan of running the country’s economy aground during his six years in office, noting that the downturn that Nigeria experienced began under him.
“Let us remind ourselves about Jonathan’s record. We cannot forget in a hurry how his regime, devoid of any clear economic agenda, engaged in frivolous spending, ran the economy aground and put the country in dire straits,” he said.
“The Jonathan administration severely damaged the economy, and all key indicators declined under his watch.”
He said Jonathan inherited $66 billion in reserves and extra crude account in 2010, but had left less than $32 billion by 2015, despite record oil profits.
Onanuga went on to say that by December 2014, the Jonathan administration had been unable to pay federal salaries, and at least 28 states owed workers back pay.
He compared this with Tinubu’s “bold reforms,” which included eliminating fuel subsidies, unifying currency rates, and increasing GDP and reserves.
“In plain language, the nation has turned the corner. And our people have started reaping the gains of the bold reforms instituted by the Tinubu administration,” he said.
“President Jonathan and others are welcome to the 2027 race. They broke the economy before, but millions of Nigerians who will not easily forget the recent past will not allow them to return to run it down again.”
