A large number of youths and civil society organisations (CSOs) on Wednesday gathered at the Abuja office of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, calling on him to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The demonstrators, operating under the platform of the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan, converged around Taraba Close near Tanganyika Street, extending through the Farmers Market axis to IBB Way. Their presence caused heavy disruption to traffic in the area during the morning hours.
The crowd, which was seen singing, dancing, and chanting popular Nigerian songs, carried placards with various inscriptions, including “GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!”, “GEJ, Nigerian youths break the medicine wey dem do you”, and “GEJ, if you no run, we quench.”
The group was led by its national president, Dr. Tom Ohikere, who told journalists that the coalition had embarked on a six-month nationwide consultation campaign. According to him, the overwhelming message from across the country has been a strong demand for Jonathan’s return to active politics.
He described the former president as “the only unifying figure capable of reversing the looming challenges facing Nigeria.”
The protesters, who referred to themselves as “visitors,” waited for several hours in anticipation of Jonathan’s arrival but did not see him. Reports indicated that he eventually arrived at the office around 1 p.m., after the demonstrators had dispersed.
Sources close to the former president suggested that Jonathan and his team had no prior notice of the visit, which reportedly caused some confusion within his camp. As of the time of filing this report, no official response had been issued by Jonathan or his spokesperson.
The peaceful demonstration, which included participants from different parts of the country, forms part of a growing trend of calls urging the former president to reconsider a return to politics.
Several groups, including the Goodluck Nigeria Movement (GNM), the Nigeria Rescue Mission Organisation, and the New Nigeria Integrity Movement (NNIM) in the Middle Belt region, have also recently appealed to Jonathan to contest, citing his experience and perceived ability to promote national unity.
Diaspora-based groups such as the Goodluckans Movement 2027 have equally intensified advocacy efforts, with supporters highlighting his democratic record and leadership qualities as reasons for his potential candidacy.
