Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has described former President Goodluck Jonathan as an appealing and potentially viable candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Thursday, Muhammad-Baba said the former president has, since leaving office in 2015, amassed a number of positives that could work in his favour should he choose to run again.
The remarks come amid growing speculation that Jonathan may contest the 2027 election, possibly challenging incumbent President Bola Tinubu. Although it remains unclear whether he would run under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), political observers have continued to assess his chances.
“Goodluck Jonathan, on the surface of it, is attractive,” Muhammad-Baba said. “Why? Because over time, and especially since 2015, he has accumulated a number of positives. One, he conceded defeat quietly. He has lived a quiet life, gained international recognition, and has been sent on diplomatic missions overseas.”
He acknowledged that Jonathan carried significant baggage prior to 2015, with many critics branding him as “clueless,” but added that some of those criticisms have since been re-evaluated in a different political context.
Muhammad-Baba also recalled the speculation in the build-up to the 2023 elections that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was attempting to draft Jonathan into the race. Although the former president never formally declared his intention, he did not rule himself out either.
Commenting on the broader political climate, Muhammad-Baba cautioned that any aspirant—whether from the North, South, or beyond—would face a challenging task convincing Nigerians that they represent genuine change.
“Well, anybody could be a candidate,” he said. “But I think, given the circumstances right now in the country—the difficulties people are facing and the challenging economic conditions—it will take a lot more for any politician to convince the electorate that they are different or that they offer a new alternative.”
He concluded by noting that Jonathan would need to do much more to present himself as a credible alternative and to distinguish himself from the past.
“Jonathan may be attractive, but he must come out clearly with a vision for the country if he truly wants to be seen as a viable candidate,” he added.