Prof Tukur Muhammad-Baba, Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has weighed in on renewed speculations surrounding former President Goodluck Jonathan’s possible return to the presidential race in 2027.
Appearing on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday, the 7th of August 2025, Muhammad-Baba addressed the growing chatter about Jonathan’s political prospects.
While rumours swirl about the Bayelsa-born politician’s intentions, Muhammad-Baba noted the continued public interest in his profile.
There are hints that Jonathan may be preparing to contest against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
Some have even raised questions about which political platform he might align with, including whether the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would consider him.
When asked about Jonathan’s chances and public perception, Muhammad-Baba responded: “I don’t know whether he is attractive or he is not. I think this is permutations and campaigns being pushed by politicians. I don’t know if Goodluck Jonathan will be attractive to anybody, except if he comes out and says exactly what they have for the country, and will wait for the voters to see if that is true.
But so far, I think everybody, most people, are just speculating on whether which, or which part of Nigeria will support which candidate or not.”
He acknowledged that Jonathan seems to appeal to some Nigerians, particularly due to how he has conducted himself post-2015.
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“Well, Goodluck Jonathan, on the surface of it, is attractive. Why? Because, over time, and especially since 2015 he has accumulated a number of positives. One, he thought he lost the election quietly, and he had been living a quiet life, been enjoying international recognition, been sent on missions overseas, and so on. And of course, some of the baggage he carried on to 2015, all people thought he was clueless.
Let’s not also forget that in the bid up to 2023 there were white speculations that the APC was wooing Goodluck Jonathan to bring him into the fray to stand for election. He did not come out openly to say, yeah, he was interested in the position, and so on.
But, you know, Goodluck Jonathan will be a candidate. But of course, he needs to do a lot more to sell himself, to offer himself as an alternative, to show that he’s now different from the Goodluck Jonathan we knew as a person.
Circumstances have turned out that some of the criticisms against him were simply political and so on.
Well, anybody could be a candidate. But I think, given the circumstances right now in the country, the difficulties people are facing the challenging the economic conditions, it will take a lot more for a politician, whether they are from the south, the north or from the moon, to convince themselves, to convince the electorate, that they are different, or that they offer a new alternative.”
Muhammad-Baba’s remarks add to the ongoing conversation about who might emerge as serious contenders in 2027 and what voters are likely to demand in light of current national challenges.