Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has described former President Goodluck Jonathan as an “attractive candidate” ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.
His remarks come amid growing speculation that Jonathan may re-enter the political arena and challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Nigeria’s top seat.
Speaking on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Muhammad-Baba acknowledged the political buzz around Jonathan’s possible candidacy, noting that since his exit from office in 2015, the former president has accumulated a number of positives that could work in his favour if he decides to run again.
“Well, Goodluck Jonathan, on the surface of it, is attractive,” Muhammad-Baba said. “Why? Because over time, and especially since 2015, he has accumulated a number of positives. He conceded defeat peacefully, lived a quiet life, received international recognition, and was sent on various diplomatic missions overseas.”
He further noted that public perception of Jonathan may have shifted since his time in office. “Some of the baggage he carried into 2015, where people thought he was clueless, is being reconsidered in light of recent events,” he added.
Commenting on Jonathan’s potential political comeback, Muhammad-Baba said the former president has yet to formally declare his intention to contest in 2027, and the current speculation appears to be driven largely by political permutations and regional alignments.
“I don’t know if Goodluck Jonathan will be attractive to anybody except if he comes out and clearly outlines what he has for the country,” he said. “Everybody is just speculating about which part of Nigeria will support which candidate.”
He also recalled past rumours suggesting that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had previously tried to woo Jonathan to join their fold ahead of the 2023 elections, though the former president never openly confirmed interest in that move.
Muhammad-Baba emphasized that while Jonathan remains a potential candidate, he would need to put in significant effort to reposition himself as a credible alternative.
“He needs to do a lot more to sell himself to offer himself as someone who is different from the Goodluck Jonathan we knew before. Circumstances have revealed that some of the criticisms he received may have been politically motivated,” he said.
Despite this, Muhammad-Baba stressed that winning public trust in today’s Nigeria will be a major challenge for any politician, given the country’s pressing economic difficulties and widespread disillusionment with leadership.
“Given the circumstances right now in the country the economic hardship and growing frustration it will take a lot for any politician, whether from the North, South, or even from the moon, to convince the electorate that they offer something truly different,” he concluded.
As 2027 approaches, political observers continue to monitor signals from Jonathan’s camp, with questions lingering about whether he will contest under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or consider an alliance with another party.
