In a dramatic show of support, thousands of Nigerian youths and civil society organisations on Wednesday stormed the Abuja office of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, passionately urging him to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The large crowd, operating under the banner of the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan, took over sections of the capital city, chanting slogans, dancing to popular Nigerian songs, and brandishing placards with emotionally charged messages.
Some of the placards read: “GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!”, “GEJ, Nigerian youths break the medicine wey dem do you,” and the blunt warning: “GEJ, if you no run, we quench.”
The protesters, who caused heavy traffic disruption around Taraba Close, near Tanganyika Street, extending to Farmers Market and IBB Way, waited for over three hours in the hope of meeting the former president. However, Jonathan did not appear.
Addressing journalists and the crowd, public analyst and former Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Dr Tom Ohikere, who led the protest as National President of the coalition, said the group had conducted nationwide consultations for six months.
“Everywhere that we have visited in the course of our nationwide consultation over a period of six months, the clamor for his return to power to rescue our country has been loud and unmistakable,” Ohikere stated.
He described Jonathan as the only unifying force capable of averting the impending catastrophe facing Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, former President Jonathan had not issued any official response to the growing calls for him to join the 2027 presidential race.
Wednesday’s demonstration adds to mounting pressure from various groups across Nigeria and the diaspora pushing for Jonathan’s return to active politics.
The development comes as opposition parties intensify activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, including ongoing leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where supporters recently protested at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office demanding recognition of the David Mark-led faction.