Friday September 26, 2025
By TheNewsDESK |
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has intensified political speculation surrounding the 2027 presidential election following a private meeting with the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Abuja on Thursday, September 25, night.
The surprise visit occurred just hours after the ADC held its First National Caucus meeting, during which the party was officially adopted as the coalition platform for a newly emerging opposition alliance aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The former President’s discreet engagement with the head of the ADC comes amid persistent rumours and a sustained campaign by certain elements within the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to woo him into contesting the 2027 race against the incumbent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This series of political movements highlights a calculated push to rally a formidable challenger against the APC ahead of the next general election. While details of the closed-door discussions remain scarce, the timing of the meeting with the ADC leadership, a party at the centre of the new opposition coalition, is viewed as highly significant.
Mr Jonathan, who served as President from 2010 to 2015 before making history by peacefully conceding defeat to former President Muhammadu Buhari, remains a figure of considerable political currency. Critically, should he decide to return to the presidential race and win, the Nigerian constitution only entitles him to serve one additional four-year term. This constitutional clause, which restricts former presidents who have completed a term from seeking a second full term, makes him an attractive candidate for political blocs seeking a transitional leader.
The high-level political consultations, including this meeting with the ADC Chairman, fuel the ongoing narrative that the opposition is actively mobilising and seeking to consolidate its ranks around a powerful candidate. The ADC meeting on Thursday, September 25, served as a crucial step in formalising the coalition’s operational structure, indicating that preparations for the 2027 contest are well underway. The political manoeuvres signal a serious intent from opposition figures, including those from the PDP and other parties, to challenge the APC’s dominance.
