Hundreds of youths under the banner of the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan gathered on Wednesday at the former President’s Abuja residence, urging him to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The demonstration took place at Taraba Close in the Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory, causing traffic disruptions as participants chanted slogans, danced, and held placards appealing for Jonathan’s return to active politics.
Some of the signs read: “GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!” “GEJ, Nigerian youths break the medicine wey dem do you,” and “GEJ, if you no run, we quench.”
Leading the march, the National President of the coalition, Tom Ohikere, explained that the protest followed extensive nationwide consultations.
He stated, “Everywhere that we have visited in the course of our nationwide consultation over a period of six months, the clamour for his return to power to rescue our country has been loud and unmistakable.”
Ohikere described Jonathan as a unifying figure capable of tackling Nigeria’s political and economic challenges, pledging that the group would maintain pressure until the former president responds. “We will keep coming until we get a positive response,” he added.
Despite waiting for more than three hours, the demonstrators were unable to meet Jonathan, who was reportedly not at home at the time. He later arrived around 1 p.m., after the group had already dispersed.
Wednesday’s rally is part of a broader wave of appeals from political groups and diaspora organizations calling on Jonathan to re-enter partisan politics ahead of the 2027 elections.
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This follows a similar push in 2022 when groups across Nigeria encouraged the former president to participate in the 2023 general elections.
At that time, some northern youths and political actors even purchased presidential nomination and expression of interest forms from the All Progressives Congress on Jonathan’s behalf, despite his affiliation with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
The move triggered debates over legality and political implications, especially given that Jonathan had already served a full term and completed the tenure of his predecessor, raising constitutional questions about eligibility.
Jonathan ultimately declined to run, remaining silent for weeks before publicly distancing himself from the campaign. While he has not announced any interest in the 2027 race, calls for his return to the political arena continue to surface.
The former president, who led the country from 2010 to 2015, has largely focused on a statesman role since leaving office, engaging in diplomacy and observing elections across Africa.