According to a report by the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, a former presidential media aide, Umar Sani, has disclosed that former President Goodluck Jonathan has allegedly obtained the presidential nomination form of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2027 general election.…....
Sani, who served as senior special assistant on media and publicity to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, made the claim during an appearance on Trust TV on Tuesday, May 19.
The revelation has further intensified discussions surrounding Jonathan’s possible return to frontline politics after years away from active partisan engagement. Political observers have continued to speculate about the former president’s next move following a series of consultations and meetings with influential political stakeholders across the country.
Although Jonathan has not publicly declared his intention to seek office again, Sani insisted that developments behind the scenes point to growing political interest from the former Nigerian leader.
According to him, the lingering leadership crisis within the PDP may be one of the reasons Jonathan has remained cautious about formally announcing his ambition.
Sani also rejected suggestions that the opposition party was merely attempting to use Jonathan’s popularity to strengthen its political standing ahead of the next election cycle. He argued that obtaining the nomination form was a major indication that the former president was seriously considering the race.
He stated that in politics, actions often speak louder than public declarations, adding that the acquisition of a nomination form should not be ignored.
According to Sani, Jonathan is preparing to publicly submit the completed documents, insisting that the move demonstrates genuine commitment rather than political speculation.
The former presidential aide further expressed confidence that legal efforts challenging Jonathan’s eligibility to contest the presidency again would not succeed in court.
He maintained that the matter had already been addressed in previous judicial decisions and could not simply be reopened through fresh litigation.
Sani also argued that any attempt to overturn earlier rulings would have to come from the Supreme Court, stressing that the case currently before Justice Peter Lifu may not proceed because of jurisdictional limitations when it comes up for hearing on May 26.
He dismissed allegations that some political actors were exploiting Jonathan’s name for personal advantage, saying many Nigerians still remember the former president’s administration positively.
According to him, public opinion about Jonathan’s tenure has changed over the years, with many citizens now comparing past administrations to current realities.
Jonathan became Nigeria’s president in 2010 following the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He later contested the 2015 presidential election but was defeated by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Since leaving office, Jonathan has focused mainly on diplomatic assignments, election monitoring missions, and conflict resolution initiatives across Africa, while largely avoiding direct involvement in partisan political activities.
