The Presidency has dismissed claims that former President Goodluck Jonathan plans to contest the 2027 presidential election, warning that his “disastrous” record in office would be a major obstacle to any comeback bid.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga issued the statement on Monday in Abuja while reacting to comments by former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, who suggested that Jonathan would run under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Describing Gana’s remarks as “delusional,” Onanuga said Nigerians would not forget Jonathan’s “dismal” performance, insisting that he could not return after 12 years to defeat President Bola Tinubu.
“One recent statement that stands out in its absurdity is Prof. Jerry Gana’s claim that former President Goodluck Jonathan will contest the 2027 election under the discredited PDP that left behind 16 years of economic ruin,” Onanuga stated.
He added that Jonathan’s eligibility might still face legal scrutiny since he had already been sworn in twice as president. “The courts may have to rule on his eligibility,” he noted, warning the former leader not to be swayed by “sugar-coated” advice from PDP loyalists.
According to Onanuga, the same political class urging Jonathan to return would likely abandon him midway, just as they did in 2015. He said while Jonathan had the right to contest, Tinubu would welcome the challenge, trusting the judiciary to determine the legality of any such move.
The presidency also took a swipe at Jonathan’s record, accusing his administration of corruption and reckless economic management.
“We cannot forget how his regime, devoid of any clear economic agenda, ran the economy aground,” Onanuga said. “The downturn President Tinubu is working to reverse actually began under Jonathan. His government depleted foreign reserves and mismanaged oil revenues during a period of record-high crude prices.”
He alleged that Jonathan inherited $66 billion in reserves and excess crude savings in 2010 but left behind less than $32 billion in total by 2015. “By the end of 2014, the government was struggling to pay salaries, and at least 28 states owed workers huge arrears,” Onanuga added.
The statement further accused Jonathan’s government of large-scale corruption in fuel importation and security spending, citing ongoing court cases linked to former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
In contrast, Onanuga praised Tinubu’s economic policies, saying his administration had stabilised the economy through bold reforms.
“In just over two years, President Tinubu has restored investor confidence. GDP grew by 4.23% in the second quarter of 2025, inflation dropped to 20.12% in August—the lowest in three years—and foreign reserves now stand at $42.03 billion,” he said.
He also credited Tinubu with improving infrastructure and tackling insecurity, arguing that Nigerians would base their 2027 decisions on performance, not nostalgia.
“President Jonathan and others are free to join the race,” Onanuga concluded. “But Nigerians will not forget who broke the economy—and they will not allow those responsible to return and ruin it again.”
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