2027 Presidency: Atiku, Jonathan Can’t Defeat Tinubu – Anthony Sani

Amid unconfirmed reports suggesting that former President Goodluck Jonathan may contest the 2027 presidential election, some political observers believe he could be a strong challenger to President Bola Tinubu. Likewise, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is seen by some as a potential frontrunner.

However, in an interview with Nigeria News 247, former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani, dismissed the chances of either Jonathan or Atiku defeating Tinubu in 2027.

On the ADC’s chances in 2027:

Sani noted that although several prominent politicians are joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC), many of them are from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This, he argued, is weakening the opposition by causing further division—similar to what happened in 2023 when Peter Obi and the G5 Governors, led by Nyesom Wike, broke away from the PDP.

On Atiku’s prospects:

He believes Atiku will face significant hurdles in 2027. According to Sani, many southern voters want a southern president to serve the full eight years, while some northern voters might support Tinubu, who would only have one term left. This dynamic, he said, works against Atiku’s chances.

On the North’s likely position:

Sani emphasized that political zoning continues to influence voter behavior. Despite Atiku being a northern candidate in 2023, Tinubu still secured strong support in the region, largely due to the belief that power should rotate. He expects the same logic to apply in 2027.

On Jonathan’s rumored candidacy:

Responding to reports that Jonathan might run under the PDP, Sani expressed doubts about the move. He argued that with the opposition already fragmented—Atiku possibly in ADC, Peter Obi in the Labour Party, and Jonathan in PDP—none of them would have the political strength to unseat the incumbent.

On Jonathan’s ability to fix Nigeria’s current challenges:

Sani concluded by questioning Jonathan’s capacity to address Nigeria’s pressing issues. He said Jonathan’s past record in office offers no strong indication that he could resolve ongoing insecurity, curb corruption, or revive the economy.