The political movement surrounding former President Goodluck Jonathan’s possible return in 2027 appears to be gaining traction, as reports indicate that former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has been chosen to head consultations for the former president across the South-West region.
Jonathan, who assumed office as Nigeria’s leader in 2010 after the death of his predecessor, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and later won the 2011 election, lost his re-election bid to the late Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
Although he has yet to make any public declaration about contesting in 2027, reliable sources said the former president has been quietly consulting political stakeholders across the country.
A source privy to the development said, “The former president is not in a rush to make any announcement. He is still studying the political landscape and will only come out when he believes the timing and conditions are right.”
Efforts to reach Dr. Mimiko for confirmation were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages sent to his phone went unanswered.
Information gathered also revealed that some influential figures within both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have been appealing to Jonathan to consider contesting again, possibly under either of their platforms.
Recently, Jonathan held a closed-door meeting with ADC’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark. Though the outcome of the meeting remains undisclosed, insiders hinted that discussions focused on the possibility of Jonathan re-entering the presidential race.
Within the ADC, some members are reportedly advocating for the party’s presidential ticket to be zoned to the South. According to them, this would allow the region to complete an eight-year tenure before power returns to the North.
Sources further disclosed that part of this agenda is why some ADC leaders are supporting Jonathan’s possible return, as he would be eligible to serve only one four-year term.
Former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, who has been linked with the ADC bloc pushing for southern representation, is said to have proposed Mimiko’s name to Jonathan to lead consultations in the South-West. Aregbesola’s own position within the party’s national executive reportedly limits his ability to take on the role directly.
Mimiko and Jonathan share a longstanding political bond dating back to their days in government. In 2012, the Ondo State chapter of the PDP accused Jonathan of indirectly backing Mimiko’s re-election bid under the Labour Party.
When Mimiko later joined the PDP in 2014, he was appointed as the South-West campaign coordinator for Jonathan’s 2015 re-election campaign.
Over the years, Mimiko has switched between political parties. He ran for the Ondo Central Senatorial seat under the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in 2019 but was defeated. Before the 2023 general elections, he rejoined the PDP and aligned with the camp loyal to the current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
After the elections, many of Mimiko’s associates, including some of his former aides and commissioners, moved to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. However, reports say Mimiko himself has stayed politically quiet due to alleged resistance from some influential figures in the presidency who reportedly opposed his planned defection to the APC.
His latest assignment, according to sources, will involve leading consultations on Jonathan’s behalf by engaging with Yoruba traditional rulers, religious figures, and key political stakeholders across the South-West to gauge their opinions on a possible Jonathan candidacy in 2027.