Our Reporter, Abuja
The Presidency has said former President Goodluck Jonathan is free to contest the 2027 elections but urged Nigerians not to forget what it described as his “dismal record in office.”
In a statement issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the State House reacted to comments by former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, who had suggested that Jonathan could be drafted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to run in the next election.
Onanuga said Jonathan’s potential candidacy would face both constitutional and political scrutiny, stressing that the former leader’s past performance remained a “dark chapter” in Nigeria’s economic history.
“Don’t get us wrong: President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he wishes. It is his inalienable right to contest the presidency again. President Tinubu will wholeheartedly welcome him if he decides to enter the race,” the statement read.
“But Jonathan will have his date in court to determine whether he satisfies the constitutional requirements, and he will also have to answer to Nigerians on what he has to offer after his disastrous six years.”
The Presidency accused the PDP of presiding over “16 years of bad governance” and said Jonathan’s administration was responsible for the depletion of foreign reserves, misuse of the Excess Crude Account, and failure to pay workers’ salaries in several states despite high oil revenues.
“Jonathan inherited $66 billion in reserves and excess crude but left less than $32 billion combined. His administration squandered record oil earnings, mismanaged foreign exchange allocations, and oversaw widespread diversion of security funds,” Onanuga alleged.
In contrast, the statement praised President Tinubu’s performance since taking office in 2023, citing reforms such as subsidy removal, unification of exchange rates, and renewed investor confidence. It highlighted recent economic indicators, including 4.23% GDP growth in Q2 2025, a drop in inflation to 20.12% in August, and foreign reserves standing at $42 billion.
“The nation has turned the corner,” Onanuga stated. “Roads and other infrastructure are being built, security challenges are being addressed, and the economy is stabilising. Nigerians are beginning to reap the benefits of these bold reforms.”
While acknowledging Jonathan’s right to run, the Presidency concluded that Nigerians would not “allow those who broke the economy before to return and run it down again.”
