The National Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, has advised former President Goodluck Jonathan not to yield to mounting calls for him to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Nwanyanwu said those championing Jonathan’s possible return to the race are individuals who previously failed him, warning that their renewed interest is driven by personal ambition rather than national concern.
Speaking on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the ZLP leader disclosed that he is yet to meet with the former president but plans to do so soon. He urged Jonathan to remain cautious and avoid rushing into any political decision.
He also expressed support for former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who is believed to be opposed to her husband’s return to active electoral politics.
According to him, the same political actors currently promoting Jonathan’s candidacy were responsible for his earlier political setbacks. He described the former president as an honest leader with sound policies who was unfairly treated by his allies.
Jonathan served as Nigeria’s president between 2011 and 2015, having first assumed office following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He secured election in 2011 but lost his re-election bid to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
With the 2027 general election approaching, some leaders within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and political commentators have continued to tip Jonathan as a potential contender, citing his experience in office.
However, the former president has consistently played down such speculations, stating at various public engagements that he has no immediate plans to return to the presidential race.
