The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has begun moves to persuade former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election on its platform.

This was disclosed by the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, in an interview aired by the BBC Hausa Service on Tuesday.

Abdullahi stated that the party’s outreach to Jonathan was in response to growing calls from Nigerians urging the former leader to return. “Nigerians have realised that Jonathan was a good leader and most of the problems they blamed him for were actually not his faults,” he said.

He praised Jonathan’s democratic credentials, recalling his decision to concede defeat in the 2015 election without resistance despite holding the power to influence the outcome. “Unlike his predecessors, he toed the path of honour and avoided bloodshed,” Abdullahi noted.

According to the PDP official, Jonathan has responded positively to the party’s invitation but insisted he would consult widely before making a final decision. “He said he would ponder and consult about it to make a decision,” Abdullahi said.

He also revealed that Jonathan allegedly listed conditions for his return, including being granted an automatic presidential ticket if he agrees to run.

The BBC report added that some PDP governors have recently accompanied Jonathan to an event in Gambia, signalling the seriousness of the party’s bid to bring him back into the presidential race.

Jonathan, who led Nigeria from 2010 to 2015, was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 general elections, making history as the first sitting president in Nigeria to concede defeat peacefully.