Obi lauds NDC’s screening process, downplays Jonathan factor
Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has issued a sharp warning over growing calls for former President Goodluck Jonathan to return to active partisan politics ahead of the 2027 elections, describing the push as a symptom of national frustration rather than a serious political solution.
 
In his Facebook post, Lamido argued that the renewed agitation for Jonathan’s comeback is being fuelled by what he called a deepening sense of hopelessness within Nigeria’s political landscape.    
 
According to him, the country’s current political environment has become so disillusioning that citizens are now reaching for symbolic figures instead of structural answers.
 
He cautioned that dragging Jonathan back into frontline politics would amount to exposing a former head of state, who currently enjoys global respect as a statesman, to what he described as a “murky arena” dominated by power struggles rather than ideology or national vision.
 
The former governor stressed that Jonathan’s position as a former President places him in a rare category of global elder statesmen, whose influence is best preserved outside partisan contestation. He warned that the current political climate is too fragmented and self-serving to justify what he called emotional calls for a comeback.
 
While acknowledging the sincerity behind public yearning for stronger leadership, Lamido insisted that Nigeria’s crisis cannot be solved by “personality returns,” but through rebuilding institutions, restoring political discipline, and redefining party ideology beyond what he described as mere power acquisition.
 
His remarks added a new layer to the ongoing debate over Jonathan’s political future, as discussions around 2027 continue to intensify across the country’s political space.

Meanwhile, the former Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, has described the screening conducted by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as “democracy in action.”
 
Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday after appearing before the screening committee, chaired by Sam Egwu, the former governor of Anambra, said that the exercise reflected the party’s commitment to due process and accountability.
 
“This is democracy in action because the NDC chooses to do things properly. So, when we say this is going to be a screening, it has to be done right.
 
“Nigerians want to know whether you meet the stipulated constitutional qualification and provide relevant documents to back them.
 
“This is the way to know whether everything you have said or declared is the truth, and if you can answer questions posed about your commitment to building a united, secure, and prosperous Nigeria. That’s why the screening took over two hours,” he said.
 
Obi dismissed speculations that he had emerged as the party’s consensus presidential candidate, insisting that the process remained open and democratic.
 
“How can it be based on consensus? The party opened up the expression of interest forms for people to buy. I bought the form. As the party said, I’m the only one who expressed interest. That’s it,” he said.
 
Obi commended the NDC for conducting what he described as a transparent screening process.
 
Reacting to reports that Jonathan may join the presidential race, Obi said he was not preoccupied with potential opponents but focused on rebuilding the country.