The Presidency has thrown a direct challenge at former President Goodluck Jonathan, daring him to contest against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, made the statement on Monday, warning Jonathan and his supporters to think twice before joining the race.
The response came after former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, suggested that Jonathan should run under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Gana claimed the former president could even defeat Tinubu and return to power after 12 years.
Onanuga dismissed the idea as unrealistic. He argued that the PDP left behind “a legacy of economic ruins” after 16 years in power, saying it would be unwise for Jonathan to rely on the same party.
He further warned Jonathan to be careful of “sugar-coated cheerleaders” within the PDP. According to him, politicians pushing Jonathan today would quickly abandon him, just like they did in 2015.
With the 2027 election still far away, the presidency accused the opposition of desperation. But the statement has already stirred strong debates among Nigerians about whether Jonathan should return to the political stage.
