Former President Goodluck Jonathan has shifted attention from growing calls for his 2027 presidential comeback to what he described as the deeper crisis facing Nigeria’s democracy, voter apathy and the lack of credible elections.
Speaking while receiving youth groups at his Abuja office, Jonathan said he would not be rushed into making a decision on the presidency, insisting that leadership required reflection and broad consultations.
“The presidential race is not a computer game,” he told the youths urging him to contest in 2027.
Rather than dwell on personal ambition, the former president challenged Nigerian youths to become more involved in the electoral process, lamenting that many young people demanding better leadership often fail to obtain voter cards or participate during elections.
Jonathan expressed concern that Nigeria continues to record one of the lowest voter turnout figures despite its huge population, warning that weak participation and distrust in elections discourage competent Nigerians from seeking public office.
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to examine the causes of voter apathy and improve confidence in the system.
The former president also linked Nigeria’s image abroad to years of leadership shortcomings, stressing that peaceful and transparent elections remain critical to rebuilding the country. According to him, credible polls would encourage capable citizens to take part in governance instead of avoiding politics altogether.
His comments came amid fresh legal and political controversy over his possible return to power.
A suit scheduled for hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja is seeking to stop Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, with the plaintiff arguing that he has already exhausted the constitutional two-term limit after completing the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later winning the 2011 election.
