Former APGA National Chairman Chekwas Okorie has raised significant doubts about the feasibility of a Goodluck Jonathan presidential comeback, warning that time, party rules, and legal constraints posed serious obstacles that public enthusiasm alone could not overcome and that the former president’s political pathway was considerably more complicated than his supporters were acknowledging.
Okorie, speaking in response to Jonathan’s declaration that he would consult widely on the 2027 race, questioned which party Jonathan would use to contest, noting that he remained a registered member of the Peoples Democratic Party and that switching platforms would require strict compliance with electoral laws that imposed specific timelines and conditions on party membership changes.
He challenged the logic of Jonathan seeking a return through the PDP given that party’s unresolved internal crisis and pending court matters, while also questioning whether pursuing the PDP ticket against a backdrop of factional disputes was a realistic path to the presidency.
Beyond the tactical questions, Okorie raised a more fundamental one about whether returning to partisan politics at all was consistent with Jonathan’s standing as an internationally respected elder statesman. “Is it right for him, having left office gloriously and attained such heights internationally and at home, as a renowned statesman, to go back into the muddy waters of politics?” he asked.
