Big Question: Who Will Be Jonathan’s First Lady In 2027?

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has emerged as a potential contender for the 2027 presidential elections in Nigeria, challenging the current president, Bola Tinubu.

This development arises despite the strong assertions made by his wife, Patience Jonathan, who has publicly stated that her husband has no intention of returning to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

Several months ago, Patience Jonathan actively sought to dispel any insinuations regarding her husband’s political ambitions. She firmly declared that Goodluck Jonathan has completed his tenure in office and is focused on supporting the current leadership.

She expressed her commitment to campaigning vigorously for Bola Tinubu’s re-election, thereby indicating a clear alignment with the present administration. Her remarks highlight a decisive stance against the notion of her husband’s political resurgence in the forthcoming election cycle.

Patience spoke at the penultimate weekend in Abuja after receiving an award, ‘The Women Icon Leader of the Year’, handed to her by a group, ‘ Accolades Dynamics Limited’, maintained that having received the support of Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, in 2011, it was time to reciprocate the good gesture.

The event had in attendance the daughter of the current president and Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo.

As of that time, Jonathan had not taken any political steps or conducted meetings regarding a run for the Nigerian presidency in 2027. However, he recently met with Peter Obi and the National Chairman of the ADC, David, to seek their party’s presidential ticket, according to The Nation.

Jonathan was defeated in 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. Since then, during any election circle, he has been rumoured to be interested in returning to the State House.

Also, in the lead-up to Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, persistent rumours were suggesting that Jonathan might consider running again. The speculations intensified when a group of supporters purchased a N100 million nomination form from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his behalf.

Despite his measured silence, some other northern political groups and elites have continued to advocate for Jonathan’s return in 2027, viewing him as a unifying figure capable of challenging the current administration.

But to calm the tension in the opposition party at an event, the former First Lady, who was a powerful force during her husband’s presidency, foreclosed any call on her husband to return to the presidential race, urging anybody who’s interested to ‘step back’.

She called the president’s daughter, who was at the event, not to fret about her father’s re-election, maintaining that the presidency was a ‘turn by turn ‘ issue and insisting that Nigeria can only have one president at a time.

“I was supposed to call her (Folashade) first, but I saved her for last: the daughter of our wonderful President, the President of Nigeria, the one and only we believe in—President Bola Tinubu. Iyaloja, thank you for standing with women because these are your women. Carry them along; they are with you.

“All the way, we are with you. No shaking. We will follow. Direct us, and we will follow because there is only one President at a time. We don’t have two Presidents. I am outspoken—if I don’t like something, I will say it. But if I like something, I die with it,” Patience Jonathan started.

“I believe in one President. I believe in turn by turn. When it’s your turn, I will support you. When it’s not your turn, step back—so that the country can move forward,” he continued.

The former first lady recalled that her relationship with the Tinubus has always been cordial, even before her husband became president, maintaining that this time, rather than return to Aso Rock, she would stand firmly for Tinubu’s return in 2027.

Patience Jonathan added: “I didn’t just know her (Oluremi Tinubu) just because she’s the First Lady, no. We worked together. We worked as a group. We are groups. We worked when I was a deputy governor’s wife. We worked when I was a governor’s wife.

“I know her. I talked with Oluremi. Even when my husband was the vice president, Oluremi stood with her husband and supported us during our first election. They supported us. So, for me, I have a conscience. I cannot abandon my friend, whether you like it or not.’’

According to her, she has already alerted the president’s wife of her support even before the election draws near, stressing that she was not given to keeping things in mind when it’s time to speak out. She pointed out that even if invited to return as first lady, she will turn the the offer down.

She maintained: “Because, you see, this is turn by turn. Today is my turn—I will go. Tomorrow, it will be another person’s turn—then we go. And when we go, will we still meet. Where will we meet, I don’t know.

“I stand by my friend (Tinubu’s wife). My friend is great. I told her I would campaign with her. I’m not denying her. I’m not running. I’m not going back to the villa. If you call me, I will not go,” she emphasised.

However, a significant question arises regarding the implications of Patience Jonathan’s stated disinterest in pursuing a return to the presidency. Should Goodluck Jonathan successfully win the 2027 presidential election against President Tinubu, will she reconsider or leave the office of First Lady vacant for the sake of history and loyalty?