Ademola Olarewaju, Special Assistant on Digital Media Strategy to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would suffer a devastating defeat in the 2027 presidential election if former President Goodluck Jonathan decides to contest.
Olarewaju made the statement during his appearance on Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, where he analysed the shifting political dynamics ahead of the next presidential election.
According to him, Jonathan’s entrance into the race under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would completely destabilise the APC’s electoral base, leaving the ruling party without a strong footing nationwide.
“If Goodluck Jonathan comes into the primaries and contests in a competitive primary and he wins, we all will support him. Then APC loses. APC would have no base in that election,” Olarewaju declared confidently.
Atiku’s aide further stated that his principal, Atiku Abubakar, remains the most formidable figure within opposition parties in Nigeria.
He said Atiku has the political influence and network needed to secure victory in the primaries without relying on personal wealth.
“I can say this for a fact that Atiku Abubakar will win party primaries without spending a Kobo of his own,” he said. “There are people who bank on Atiku Abubakar’s goodwill to win gubernatorial elections, senatorial elections. People will commit themselves for Atiku Abubakar. Atiku’s clout is what brings him in.”
Olarewaju’s remarks come amid growing speculations over the political future of both Atiku and Jonathan.
In September, SaharaReporters reported that Jonathan was speculated to be planning to return to the field, while the Bola Tinubu Presidency responded sharply to the development.
Speculations about Jonathan staging a comeback had lingered for months, but they were put to rest in September when former Minister of Information and Orientation, Prof Jerry Gana, announced that the former President would be the PDP candidate in the next general election.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the PDP Congress in Minna, Niger State, Gana said Nigerians were now demanding Jonathan’s return after experiencing different administrations since he left office in 2015.
“In 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of Nigerians. After him, another President ruled for eight years, and now another has ruled for two years. Nigerians have seen the difference, and the difference is very clear,” he said.
“Nigerians are now asking us to bring back our friend, former President Goodluck Jonathan. I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as PDP candidate, and we should be prepared to vote for him to return as President again.”
The announcement immediately generated nationwide reactions, particularly as Jonathan had previously handed over power peacefully in 2015 after losing to then-opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari.
However, the Tinubu Presidency wasted no time in responding to the declaration. In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, welcomed Jonathan to the race but dismissed the idea that his return was what Nigerians truly needed.
According to Onanuga, while Jonathan is entitled to seek another mandate, Nigerians will not forget his track record in office.
“Nigerians would remember his dismal record,” the statement read, signaling that the ruling party would place heavy emphasis on Jonathan’s past governance record in countering his campaign.
Onanuga said, “Politicians of Jerry Gana’s ilk merely want to lure him into the race to satisfy their personal, political, religious, and ethnic interests,” the statement said.
“They will abandon him midstream, as they did in 2015, and leave Gentleman Jonathan in the lurch.
“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,” he said