Buhari’s Ex-Aide Claims Jonathan’s 2027 Comeback Is a Trick to Block Power Shift
A former aide to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, has raised concerns over what he describes as a political ploy to bring back ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2027 presidential election. According to Ahmad, some unnamed political actors are subtly working behind the scenes to recruit Jonathan as a one-term candidate—a move he says is designed to appeal to voters in Northern Nigeria.
Ahmad made his position known through a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday. He argued that this move isn’t about Jonathan’s capacity to lead but is driven by convenience and a manipulation of Nigeria’s power rotation tradition.
He stated, “From all indications, there are ongoing subtle moves by certain political elements trying to convince former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest again in 2027.” Ahmad believes these political players see Jonathan as an easy candidate to market in the North, given that he would only be constitutionally allowed to serve one more term.
He criticized this strategy as being shallow and opportunistic. “The troubling part is that this push is not rooted in what he would offer the North or the country at large, but merely in political convenience and power rotation. The North deserves more than being used as a political ladder,” he added.
Goodluck Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, was defeated by the late President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 election by over 2.5 million votes. Constitutionally, Jonathan is eligible to run for only one more term if re-elected.
Ahmad’s remarks come amid growing political discussions and realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. While there has been no official confirmation from Jonathan or his close allies about a potential return, the former president has been seen meeting various political stakeholders in recent months.
The statement adds to the ongoing debate about whether Nigeria’s next president should come from the South or North and whether returning to a former leader truly benefits the country’s development.
