Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has advised former President Goodluck Jonathan not to return to active partisan politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Lamido said efforts by some political actors and groups to persuade Jonathan to contest again were misplaced and could damage the image and reputation the former president has built since leaving office in 2015.
The former governor, who is also a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, made his position known in a statement shared on his Facebook page on Wednesday amid growing political discussions and alignments ahead of the next presidential election.
In recent months, several political stakeholders and groups have openly called on Jonathan to return to frontline politics. Supporters of the former president believe he still enjoys goodwill across many parts of the country and could provide an alternative political direction at a time of economic hardship and rising public dissatisfaction.
However, Lamido warned that bringing Jonathan back into the current political environment would amount to dragging him into what he described as a troubled and self-serving political space.
“It is unfair and ill-opportune to drag his person into the current murky political arena populated by unserious, self-seeking and self-serving characters,” Lamido stated.
According to him, Jonathan has already moved beyond the level of partisan political struggles and should now be regarded as a respected elder statesman whose status must be protected.
Lamido argued that the former president currently occupies an important place both in Nigeria and internationally because of the manner in which he handled the 2015 presidential election defeat. Jonathan had conceded defeat to former President Muhammadu Buhari even before the final declaration of results, a move that was widely praised within and outside the country for helping to preserve peace and stability.
Since leaving office, Jonathan has remained active in diplomatic and peace-building activities across Africa. He has served as a mediator and election observer in several countries under regional and international bodies, further strengthening his image as a respected African statesman.
Lamido said exposing such a figure to present-day political battles could reduce the honour and dignity attached to his status.
According to him, former presidents who have earned international respect should not be pulled back into fierce partisan contests driven mainly by power struggles.
The PDP chieftain also criticised the current state of political parties in the country, saying many of them lack ideology and are only focused on capturing power ahead of the 2027 elections.
He argued that the renewed push for Jonathan’s return was not based on any serious political programme or national agenda, but rather a reflection of frustration among many Nigerians over the current situation in the country.
“The call for President Jonathan to hop into the political arena, no matter how well-intentioned, stems from the helplessness and hopelessness Nigeria has found itself in,” Lamido wrote.
Nigeria has continued to face major economic and security challenges in recent years, including rising inflation, a high cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and widespread public dissatisfaction. These challenges have fueled increasing political debates and speculation ahead of the 2027 elections, with different groups searching for possible political alternatives.
Some supporters of Jonathan have argued that his administration was more stable economically when compared to present realities. They also point to relative peace in some sectors during his tenure as reasons he should consider a return.
But Lamido insisted that such appeals were largely emotional and lacked clear direction.
He described the pressure on Jonathan as a “desperation call” born out of public frustration rather than genuine political planning.
“While the call is appreciated, it is a desperation call lacking in any depth beyond being a ventilator of frustration,” he added.
The former governor further urged Jonathan not to allow himself to be influenced by what he called “ego-caressing” appeals from politicians and supporters seeking political advantage.
According to him, some political actors may only be trying to use Jonathan’s popularity and reputation to advance their personal interests ahead of the next election cycle.
Political discussions around the 2027 elections have intensified in recent months, especially following ongoing realignments among opposition politicians and reports of consultations across party lines.
Jonathan’s name has repeatedly surfaced in such conversations despite the former president not openly declaring any interest in contesting future elections.
Although the Nigerian Constitution allows a person who completed another president’s term and later won a single election to contest again under certain interpretations, debates over Jonathan’s eligibility have continued to generate political and legal arguments over the years.
Jonathan became president in 2010 following the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He later won the 2011 presidential election and served until 2015 when he lost his re-election bid to Buhari.
Lamido’s latest comments may further deepen discussions within the opposition camp, especially in the PDP, where conversations about possible alliances and presidential options for 2027 are already gathering momentum.
The former Jigawa governor concluded that Jonathan remains an important national figure whose future role should be carefully handled and not hurriedly tied to partisan political contests.
According to him, preserving Jonathan’s image as a respected elder statesman would ultimately serve the country better than dragging him back into active electoral politics.