By John Umeh
PDP Stages a Big Return
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a decisive step toward the 2027 general elections at its Niger State Congress on Saturday, when one of its founding fathers, Professor Jerry Gana, announced that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan would seek to reclaim the presidency.
Gana, who served as Minister of Information and National Orientation, told journalists after the congress in Minna that Nigerians had lived through two administrations since Jonathan left office in 2015 and were now clamouring for his return. “In 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian,” he recalled. “Another President ruled for eight years, and the current one has ruled for two. Nigerians have seen the difference and are asking us to bring back our friend, Goodluck Jonathan. I can confirm that he will contest the presidential election in 2027 as PDP candidate. We must prepare to return him to Aso Rock.”
According to Gana, the party is sensing a “groundswell of nostalgia” among voters who remember Jonathan’s administration as more stable, especially on issues of security, civil liberties, and economic management. “We are listening to the voice of the people,” he added.
PDP’s Message of Unity and Renewal
Gana used the occasion to tout the PDP’s credentials as Nigeria’s “truly democratic and grassroots-based party,” saying it had always allowed Nigerians to freely choose their leaders. “This is why we remain the people’s party,” he said, stressing that the PDP’s record of people-centred programmes still resonates nationwide.
He dismissed talk of internal divisions, revealing that disputes within the party had been addressed at a consultative conference of founding fathers in Abuja. “The party is now united and prepared for the task ahead in 2027,” he assured. “We are ready to provide a credible alternative to the current administration, and Jonathan represents the experience and stability Nigerians are demanding.”
At the state level, Saturday’s congress produced a new leadership team to drive the PDP’s revival in Niger State. Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed Halidu emerged as state chairman with 1,289 votes, narrowly defeating Zonal Chairman Alhaji Yahaya Abdullahi (Ability), who polled 1,269 votes. Other winners included Alhaji Khadi Kuta, returned unopposed as Secretary, and Mrs Salome Ndakosu, who clinched the Woman Leader position with 1,373 votes against Ramotu Jibrin’s 590.
In his acceptance speech, Halidu called for unity, urging members to “join hands in ensuring the return of a people-oriented government in 2027.” He pledged to strengthen the party’s grassroots structures and rebuild trust among voters. “This is the time to put our differences aside and work for the victory of the PDP and President Jonathan in 2027,” he said to loud cheers.
The Road Ahead to 2027
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s President from 2010 to 2015, has not publicly declared his interest in the 2027 election, but Gana’s statement is the clearest sign yet of a coordinated push to draft him back into the race. Political observers say his potential comeback would dramatically reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.
Security analysts and political scientists note that his campaign would likely focus on themes of national reconciliation, economic recovery, and youth empowerment. “Many Nigerians still associate Jonathan with relative calm compared to what followed,” one analyst noted. “The PDP is hoping to harness that memory at a time of growing hardship and insecurity.”
However, Gana’s bold declaration also sets the stage for an intense political contest. The ruling party has vowed to defend its incumbency, while several opposition figures have been testing the waters for a 2027 bid.
For now, PDP leaders like Gana are projecting confidence. “Nigerians must shine their eyes,” he urged, “and vote out the present administration in favour of Jonathan’s return for good governance.”
If successful, Jonathan would be the first Nigerian President to return to power after leaving office in the Fourth Republic. His candidacy, combined with new state-level leadership such as that elected in Niger, signals that the PDP is not just looking to compete but to win.
With four years left until the next general elections, the party is embarking on what insiders describe as “a full-scale reconnection” with grassroots supporters, while positioning Jonathan as a symbol of stability and inclusive governance.
As one PDP delegate at the Minna congress put it: “We have tried others. We have seen the difference. Now we want Jonathan back.”
