The Presidency has reacted to speculations that former President Goodluck Jonathan may contest the 2027 presidential election, warning that he left behind a legacy of economic mismanagement and corruption.

The response followed comments by Professor Jerry Gana, a former Minister of Information, who at the weekend declared that Jonathan would return to contest on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking after the PDP Niger State Congress in Minna, Gana said Nigerians, having experienced two administrations since Jonathan left office in 2015, were now yearning for his comeback.

“In 2015, Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of Nigerians. After him, another president ruled for eight years, and now another has ruled for two years. Nigerians have seen the difference, and the difference is very clear. Nigerians are now asking us to bring back our friend, Jonathan,” Gana stated.

“I can confirm that Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as a PDP candidate, and we should be prepared to vote for him to return as President again,” he added.

However, Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga dismissed the remarks as laughable, insisting that Jonathan stood no chance against President Bola Tinubu, who was elected in 2023.

“Gana even deluded himself, asserting that the former president would defeat President Tinubu to reclaim power after 12 years,” Onanuga said.

He described Gana as engaging in “political comedy,” warning Jonathan to beware of “sugar-coated cheerleaders” seeking to lure him into the race for selfish, ethnic, and religious interests.

“They will abandon him midstream, as they did in 2015, and leave Gentleman Jonathan in the lurch,” Onanuga cautioned.

The presidential aide accused Jonathan’s administration of mismanaging oil revenues, depleting foreign reserves, and entrenching corruption.

“Jonathan’s regime, devoid of any clear economic agenda, engaged in frivolous spending, ran the economy aground, and put the country in dire straits. The nation’s economic downturn, which President Tinubu is working hard to overcome, began under Jonathan,” he stated.

According to him, Jonathan inherited $66 billion in 2010—$46 billion in foreign reserves and $20 billion in the Excess Crude Account—but by 2015, reserves had dropped below $30 billion while the Excess Crude Account was reduced to $2 billion, despite record oil revenues.

Onanuga also revisited the controversial handling of security funds under Jonathan, referencing the “Dasukigate”
scandal in which funds meant for arms procurement were allegedly diverted to political allies.

While acknowledging Jonathan’s constitutional right to contest, he raised questions about his eligibility, noting that he had already been sworn in twice as president.

“Don’t get us wrong: President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he wishes. It is his inalienable right. President Tinubu will wholeheartedly welcome him if he decides to enter the race. But Jonathan will have his day in court, where the jury will determine whether he satisfies the constitutional requirements after being sworn in twice,” Onanuga said.

He insisted that discussions about the 2027 election were premature and largely driven by those unsettled by Tinubu’s economic reforms, which, he claimed, were already yielding results.

“Ultimately, Jonathan will also face Nigerians to explain whether he has anything new to offer after the disastrous six years for which they voted him out in 2015,” Onanuga added.