Nigeria’s former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is emerging as a key contender to face incumbent President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, according to a close associate of the Bayelsa-born leader who spoke to *Vanguard* yesterday. The source, a fellow member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), disclosed that plans to draft Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate are at an advanced stage — and that he has agreed to run. He added that Jonathan’s decision is driven by a desire to confront Nigeria’s deepening poverty, widespread hardship, and the general suffering endured by citizens in recent years. According to the source, the move to bring Jonathan back is being spearheaded by prominent national figures and respected elders who believe that during his six-year tenure, the former president maintained economic stability and national cohesion. The source further revealed that the initiative to return Jonathan to power is also seen as a strategic effort to salvage Nigeria's economy and restore the nation’s pride. As part of the larger plan, PDP leaders and key stakeholders have been urging Jonathan to enter the race as the most viable option against President Tinubu in 2027. Supporters of the plan argue that Jonathan’s eligibility to serve only one more four-year term makes him a unifying option — one that could pave the way for power to shift back to the North in 2031 without much resistance from the South. **Behind-the-Scenes Consultations Begin** The insider confirmed that Jonathan has already begun consulting influential political leaders both within and beyond the PDP. Among those he has reportedly met is former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), at his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, Niger State, where he briefed the elder statesman on his intentions. Though the source declined to disclose General Babangida’s response, he expressed confidence that the North had been effectively briefed and sensitised about the proposal. Jonathan is also said to be holding consultations across the South-South region, meeting key political stakeholders to build support for the campaign. While details of a meeting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday and Wednesday remain unclear, it is widely believed that Jonathan will face little resistance in consolidating support from his base in the region. **PDP Steps Up Moves to Woo Jonathan** Meanwhile, the PDP is actively working behind the scenes to convince Jonathan to accept its 2027 presidential ticket. According to reliable information obtained by the *BBC Hausa Service* and monitored in Kaduna, high-ranking PDP leaders — including some state governors — are coordinating efforts to bring Jonathan back into the fold and position him as the party’s standard-bearer against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Tinubu. Confirming the development, PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the move reflects the growing sentiment among Nigerians who now recognise that Jonathan’s previous administration was not fully appreciated during its time. Vanguard Newspaper