2027: You must contest — Nigerian youths, CSOs tell ex-president Jonathan

Nigerian youths and civil society organizations on Wednesday stormed the Abuja office of former President Goodluck Jonathan, urging him to contest in the 2027 presidential election.

The large crowd took over parts of the capital, chanting slogans and displaying placards calling on the ex-president to return to power. Some of the messages read, “GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!” and “GEJ, Nigerian youths break the medicine wey dem do you.”

Another placard warned, “GEJ, if you don’t run, we quench.”

Speaking during the protest, public analyst and former Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Tom Ohikere, said the group had waited for over three hours in hopes of meeting Jonathan, who did not appear.

“Everywhere that we have visited in the course of our nationwide consultation over a period of six months, the clamor for his return to power to rescue our country has been loud and unmistakable,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, Jonathan has yet to issue an official response to the calls.

Wednesday’s demonstration adds to growing pressure from groups within Nigeria and the diaspora urging the former president to join the 2027 race.

The development comes amid a leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress, ADC. The opposition party members and supporters had also protested at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, demanding the reversal of the delisting of the David Mark-led leadership.

The renewed political activity highlights rising momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.