The National Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Dan Nwanyanwu, has advised former President Goodluck Jonathan not to heed growing calls for him to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Nwanyanwu issued the warning on Friday during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, insisting that many of those urging Jonathan to run are the same political actors who “betrayed” him during his time in office.
“I have not spoken with President Jonathan. I intend to see him very soon, but I think he should tarry a while,” he said.
Aligning himself with Jonathan’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan,who is reportedly opposed to her husband re-entering the presidential race, Nwanyanwu argued that those pushing for Jonathan’s comeback are driven by selfish interests.
He said:
“I am with Madam Patience because the same people calling him were the same people who betrayed him, an honest man, a man who had good policies for Nigeria. They betrayed him, so they want to use him now to clean their mess.”
Jonathan, who governed Nigeria from 2011 to 2015, first assumed office as vice president.
He later became president following the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and went on to contest and win the 2011 election.
He eventually lost his re-election bid in 2015 to the late Muhammadu Buhari.
As the 2027 polls approach, several political groups and prominent voices within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been urging Jonathan to contest, arguing that his experience and profile position him as a strong contender for the presidency.
Some analysts have also described him as the PDP’s “best bet.”
Jonathan, however, has repeatedly stated that contesting the presidency is not part of his current plans.
Since leaving office, he has dedicated much of his time to diplomatic engagements, peace missions, and election observation roles across Africa, including his recent leadership of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission before the military takeover during last Sunday’s polls.
Despite mounting pressure, the former president has yet to officially declare interest in the 2027 race.
