As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, there is a growing conversation about the potential return of former President Goodluck Jonathan, highlighting the dynamic and evolving political landscape of the country.
This speculation offers an opportunity for reflection on past leadership and what Nigeria needs in its future governance. Discussions have begun to circulate that Jonathan could once again influence the upcoming race for power.
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has called on Nigerians to elect out of office any leader who gets it wrong in the 2027 poll, should the election be free and fair.
Delivering the 2025 version of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) Democracy Dialogue in Accra, Ghana, Jonathan characterised election rigging as one of the greatest dangers confronting democracy on the continent.
He cautioned that if the stakeholders unite to revisit and rethink democracy, it might crumble on the continent. “When the leaders fail to offer these simple things, people lose faith,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan noted that democracy in Africa is “going through a period of strain” and could risk collapse if reforms are not urgently introduced, Vanguard reported.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our instance, citizens hijack the system to keep themselves in power even when the people do not need them,” he emphasized.
He also urged leaders to adopt a democracy that “promises a great future for our children where their voice counts.”
Jonathan also spoke of the increasing involvement of youths in governance, which he said was heart-warming. He however insisted that young leaders must be guided by the wisdom and knowledge of the aged if they are to thrive.
President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, also spoke at the event, alongside former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and other leaders.
Mahama warned that democracy would not survive unless Africans actively defended and strengthened it, Daily Trust reported.
“Anybody who wants to serve must be accountable to the people. Our citizens are tired of corruption, misgovernance, and lack of opportunities,” Mahama said.
Obasanjo, who chaired the event, declared that Africa’s current democratic practice is unsustainable and must be reformed urgently.
Other participants, including the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, emphasised that democracy must extend beyond elections to include accountability, discipline, and genuine service to the people.
