2027 Presidency: Omokri Declines Comment on Jonathan’s Potential Candidacy, Cites Personal Loyalty
Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has declined to comment on increasing calls for former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election, citing a deep personal bond with his former boss.
Speaking during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Friday, Omokri said his affection and loyalty to Jonathan prevent him from offering public opinions on the matter.
“I have unconditional love for President Jonathan, and for that reason, I will not criticise or express any opinion about his political decisions on live television,” Omokri stated.
Revealing the extent of their relationship, Omokri, who served as Jonathan’s media aide, shared a personal anecdote: “This is a man who came to California and spent ten days with me and my family.”
Although Jonathan has not formally declared any intention to run, speculation around his potential return to the political scene has intensified. Notably, he remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under whose platform he served as president from 2010 to 2015.
Calls for Jonathan’s return have gained momentum, particularly within the PDP. On Thursday, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who also chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, extended an open invitation to the former president to join the party’s presidential race.
“Certainly, former President Jonathan is one of the candidates we are considering—if he decides to run and re-engage with the party,” Mohammed said. “He remains one of Nigeria’s most celebrated politicians today and would be a strong contender for our ticket.”
Governor Mohammed also mentioned that other prominent figures, including former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, would be welcome in the PDP should they choose to join the party, which he described as offering a more favourable platform with fewer limitations.
Though Jonathan has distanced himself from active partisan politics since losing to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 general elections, his continued membership in the PDP keeps the door open for a possible political comeback.