The Presidency has reacted sharply to reports linking former President Goodluck Jonathan with a fresh bid for the nation’s top seat in 2027, insisting that only the courts can determine his constitutional eligibility.
Professor Jerry Gana, a former Minister of Information and stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had earlier confirmed that Jonathan would contest the next general election on the opposition party’s platform.
But in a strongly worded statement on Monday, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, dismissed the claims as “absurd” and cautioned the former leader against allowing himself to be drawn into what he described as a deceptive ploy by PDP power brokers.
Onanuga argued that Jonathan, who was twice sworn into office between 2010 and 2015, would ultimately face judicial scrutiny to determine whether the constitution permits him to seek another term.
“President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he so wishes. But he will have his day in court, and Nigerians will also judge whether he has anything new to offer after his dismal six years in office,” Onanuga said.
He accused the Jonathan administration of laying the foundation for the country’s economic downturn, citing the depletion of foreign reserves, the Excess Crude Account and alleged misuse of security funds. According to him, despite record oil earnings between 2010 and 2013, the government left behind huge salary arrears and widespread financial distress by 2015.
“By the time Jonathan left office, foreign reserves had fallen below $30 billion while the Excess Crude Account was nearly emptied, despite oil selling above $100 a barrel for years,” Onanuga stated.
In contrast, the Presidency highlighted what it termed President Tinubu’s “bold reforms” in the past two years, including subsidy removal, exchange rate unification and renewed investor confidence. It cited recent economic data showing a 4.23 per cent GDP growth in the second quarter of 2025, inflation easing to its lowest in three years, and foreign reserves standing at over $42 billion.
Onanuga insisted that Tinubu had stabilised the economy, expanded infrastructure projects and improved security efforts, stressing that Nigerians would not easily forget the “ruin” left behind by the PDP.
“Jonathan and his backers are free to contest, but Nigerians will not allow them to drag the country backwards,” he added.
