Jonathan Faces Pressure to Abandon 2027 Presidential Ambition – PDP Sources

Former President Goodluck Jonathan is reportedly under mounting pressure to abandon any plans of contesting the 2027 presidential election and instead support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. Sources familiar with the development told *Vanguard* that several influential figures from the Niger Delta, led by ex-militant leader Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, are spearheading the effort.

According to insiders, some of Jonathan’s close associates and community leaders from the region have advised him to shelve any political comeback and rally behind Tinubu’s second-term campaign. Tompolo was said to have visited Jonathan at his Otuoke country home in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on October 16 to personally appeal to him on the issue. He was accompanied by the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Chief Kestin Pondi, and the APC Deputy Governorship candidate in the 2023 Bayelsa election, Mr. Joshua Maciver, among others.

The meeting, which sources described as “purely political,” focused on persuading Jonathan to drop any presidential ambition. Tompolo reportedly told the former president that the general mood across the Niger Delta was not in favour of his return to power and that the region’s leadership was inclined toward supporting Tinubu’s re-election.

As the national coordinator of the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement, a grassroots campaign group advocating Tinubu’s continuity in office, Tompolo was said to have warned that Jonathan might not enjoy the expected “home support” if he decided to run in 2027. One insider said, “Tompolo appealed to His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to drop the idea of contesting and not be misled into believing he could unseat President Tinubu. He emphasized that sentiment across the Niger Delta and much of Nigeria favours Tinubu’s re-election.”

Another source disclosed that Jonathan appeared receptive to Tompolo’s counsel and assured him that he would take time to reflect on the advice before making his stance public.

Speaking briefly to journalists after the closed-door meeting, Jonathan said Tompolo’s visit was to review the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta, but he neither confirmed nor denied discussions regarding his 2027 political plans.