The presidency has stated that former President Goodluck Jonathan is free to run in the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, said although Jonathan is welcome to join the race, Nigerians will not overlook his “dismal record in office.”
The remark followed claims by Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information, who asserted that Jonathan would contest the 2027 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defeat Tinubu to reclaim power after 12 years.
Reacting, Onanuga described Gana’s position as “absurd,” arguing that Jonathan risked being misled by PDP figures into joining the race, only to be abandoned later.
“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.”
Onanuga acknowledged Jonathan’s right to contest but pointed out that the former president’s eligibility could face legal scrutiny since he has already 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.”
He further accused Jonathan of mismanaging the economy during his six years in office, stressing that Nigeria’s economic decline began under his administration.
“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.”
According to Onanuga, Jonathan inherited $66 billion in reserves and the excess crude account in 2010 but left less than $32 billion by 2015 despite enjoying record oil revenues. He added that by December 2014, the administration could not pay federal workers’ salaries, while at least 28 states owed staff arrears.
He contrasted this with Tinubu’s “bold reforms,” pointing to the removal of fuel subsidy, exchange rate unification, and growth in 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,” Onanuga stated.
“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.”