Jonathan Yet to Rule Out 2027 Presidential Bid — Cousin Debunks Exit Rumours

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has not ruled himself out of the 2027 presidential race, contrary to recent reports suggesting he had bowed out to preserve Southern unity.

Although Jonathan has yet to make a formal declaration regarding his 2027 ambitions, credible sources indicate that he is actively consulting political stakeholders nationwide — a move seen by observers as groundwork for a potential second-term bid.

Addressing the controversy on Friday, Jonathan’s cousin, Azibaola Robert, dismissed a report by Newsweek Nigeria that claimed the ex-president had decided not to run. The headline of the report, “Jonathan Rejects Pressure to Contest in 2027, Says He Won’t Be Used Against Southern Unity”, was labelled false by Azibaola in a post on his verified Facebook page.

He stated categorically that the individual cited as Jonathan’s aide in the article “does not exist,” and urged the public to ignore the publication.

“The former president has not told anyone he would not contest in 2027,” Azibaola clarified, adding that Jonathan remains open to all possibilities as consultations continue.

He further noted, “The former president has made it clear that he would not yield to calls not to run since those making such admonition had selfish motives.” However, Azibaola did not disclose any specific timeline or strategy regarding a formal announcement.

While Jonathan remains silent on his next political move, his name continues to feature prominently in political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.