Former President Goodluck Jonathan is reportedly considering joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections, as opposition parties begin consultations and alliances to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sources within the ADC told Sunday PUNCH that the former president had held a series of meetings with the party’s leaders, including its national chairman, Senator David Mark, and other coalition figures. Although Jonathan has not made any official announcement, insiders say discussions are ongoing about a possible return to the presidential race.
A senior member of the ADC’s National Working Committee said, “Jonathan is a very important and patriotic Nigerian, and he will be a great asset to our party. The discussions have been about the 2027 elections and Nigeria’s leadership. The ADC is the only credible alternative platform, and we are working with him and others expected to join.”
Another party source revealed that Jonathan might run under the ADC if given the presidential ticket unopposed, adding that the former president wants a consensus agreement with other opposition leaders such as Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
The source said, “Jonathan is considering the ADC. If the party agrees to give him the ticket, he may run. But this depends on whether other leaders, like Atiku and Obi, will support him as a consensus candidate.”
Meanwhile, ADC Youth Leader Balarabe Rufai confirmed that Jonathan’s recent meeting with the party leadership focused on Nigeria’s political future.
He said, “Jonathan is a patriotic citizen who has written his name in gold. It’s not a surprise that he has met with our National Chairman. They are putting their heads together to find a way forward for the country.”
Rufai added that the ADC remains the only “trusted opposition platform,” saying, “The PDP and Labour Party are in crisis. Their members are defecting to the ADC because they no longer trust their leaders.”
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ADC National Treasurer Mani Ibrahim also confirmed that the party has been meeting with prominent Nigerians ahead of 2027.
“We have a roadmap, and we are following it diligently. Nigerians are suffering under the current administration. They want change, and we believe ADC can deliver it,” he said.
However, the APC dismissed the reports as insignificant. The party’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said Jonathan would face defeat if he ran against President Bola Tinubu.
Ibrahim said, “Our party defeated him when he was confident in the PDP. How can we not defeat him now if he joins a smaller party like the ADC? Beating him will be easy because the ADC is not organised, and the APC enjoys overwhelming support across Nigeria.”
So far, Jonathan has not publicly declared his interest in contesting the 2027 election, but his recent political meetings and growing public appearances have fueled speculations about a possible political comeback.