Thousands of youths and civil society groups on Wednesday gathered at the Abuja office of former President Goodluck Jonathan, urging him to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Gatekeepers News reports that the protesters, operating under the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan, occupied areas around Taraba Close near Tanganyika Street, stretching through the Farmers Market axis to IBB Way, disrupting early morning traffic.
Chanting and dancing, the demonstrators displayed placards with messages such as “GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!”, “GEJ, Nigerian youths break the medicine wey dem do you”, and “GEJ, if you no run, we quench.”
Led by the coalition’s national president, Tom Ohikere, the group waited for more than three hours in anticipation of Jonathan’s arrival, but he did not show up.
Addressing journalists, Ohikere said the call for Jonathan’s return followed months of nationwide consultations.
“Everywhere that we have visited in the course of our nationwide consultation over a period of six months, the clamour for his return to power to rescue our country has been loud and unmistakable,” he said.
He added that Jonathan remains “the only unifying force that can reverse the impending catastrophe looming over Nigeria.”
The demonstrators, who described themselves as “visitors,” dispersed before the former president reportedly arrived around 1 p.m.
Sources said Jonathan and his aides were unaware of the planned visit, leading to some confusion within his camp. Despite this, the coalition vowed to continue its campaign until it receives a response.
The protest remained peaceful, with participants drawn from different states and united in their call for Jonathan to re-enter active politics.
As of the time of filing this report, Jonathan had not issued any official statement. He is widely known for his oft-quoted remark: “My ambition is not worth any blood.”
His spokesperson has also yet to respond to the latest appeals.
Wednesday’s protest adds to a growing wave of support from groups within Nigeria and the diaspora calling on the former president to run in 2027. Among them are the Goodluck Nigeria Movement, the Nigeria Rescue Mission Organisation, and the New Nigeria Integrity Movement (NNIM), Middle Belt Zone, all of which have cited his leadership experience as key to national stability.
Diaspora-based groups, including the Goodluckans Movement 2027, have also intensified pressure, with spokesperson Chidinma Unigwe urging Jonathan to consider a return, pointing to his democratic credentials and governance record.
