Niger Delta leaders reportedly urge Jonathan to drop 2027 bid and back Tinubu

Pressure mounts on former president over speculated return to power

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is reportedly under increasing pressure to abandon any plans of contesting the 2027 presidential election and instead lend his support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

According to reliable sources, the pressure is said to be coming from some influential political figures and opinion leaders in the Niger Delta region, including well-known ex-militant leader Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly called Tompolo.

These figures, Vanguard reports, have privately urged the former president to put aside any political ambition to return to office, insisting that the current political atmosphere in the region appears to favour President Tinubu’s continuation in power beyond 2027.

Tompolo reportedly visits Jonathan in Bayelsa

Sources disclosed that Chief Tompolo recently led a high-powered delegation to Jonathan’s country home in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, to personally appeal to him on the matter.

The visit, which reportedly took place on October 16, was said to include several prominent Niger Delta figures such as the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), Chief Kestin Pondi, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy Governorship candidate in the 2023 Bayelsa election, Mr. Joshua Maciver, among others.

According to insiders, the meeting lasted several hours and was largely political in nature. While reports initially claimed the visit was about maintaining peace and stability in the Niger Delta, multiple sources confirmed that the main discussion focused on Jonathan’s rumored 2027 presidential ambition and the need to unite the region behind one political agenda.

Meeting centered on persuading Jonathan to support Tinubu

Tompolo, who now heads the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement, a grassroots campaign group advocating for President Tinubu’s re-election, reportedly told Jonathan that the “general sentiment among Niger Deltans” was not favourable to his possible comeback bid.

The ex-militant leader was said to have reminded the former president that Tinubu’s government has shown commitment to the region through various security, infrastructure, and empowerment initiatives, including continued collaboration with Tantita Security Services in curbing oil theft.

A source close to the meeting told reporters:

“Tompolo came to see His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in Otuoke, on Friday, October 16, in what was a happy reunion after over a decade. Contrary to reports that the visit was about peace and security in the Niger Delta, it was purely political.”

The source added that Tompolo “appealed to the former president to shelve his rumoured presidential bid in 2027,” cautioning that “public sentiment across the Niger Delta and much of Nigeria currently favours President Tinubu’s re-election.”

Jonathan reportedly receptive but noncommittal

Another insider revealed that Jonathan received Tompolo and his delegation warmly and acknowledged the sincerity of their appeal. The source said the former president did not make any firm political commitment during the meeting but “promised to reflect on the counsel” before deciding his next steps.

“Dr. Jonathan appreciated the wisdom in Tompolo’s counsel. He listened carefully and assured the delegation that he would take time to reflect on the issues raised before making his political position public,” the insider disclosed.

The meeting was described as cordial and marked by mutual respect, highlighting the long-standing relationship between both men, which dates back to the early years of Jonathan’s presidency.

Jonathan’s public statement after the meeting

After the closed-door session, former President Jonathan briefly addressed journalists at his residence. In his comments, he downplayed the political aspect of the visit, describing Tompolo’s mission as part of ongoing efforts to “review the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta.”

“We discussed issues concerning peace and stability in the region,” Jonathan said, without confirming or denying that his 2027 political plans were discussed.

His statement, however, has done little to quell speculation about his future political ambitions.

Political implications for the 2027 race

While Jonathan has not publicly declared any intention to contest in 2027, rumours about his possible return to the presidential race have persisted since 2022, when he was briefly linked to a faction within the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the last election.

Political observers believe that if Jonathan decides to contest again, it could reshape the dynamics of the 2027 presidential election, particularly in the South-South region, where both his influence and Tinubu’s recent alliances remain strong.

For now, however, the former president appears to be weighing his options carefully as Niger Delta leaders continue to lobby him to support Tinubu’s second-term bid.

A delicate balancing act

Analysts note that Jonathan’s next political move will likely depend on how the Tinubu administration addresses key issues affecting the Niger Delta — including environmental restoration, economic empowerment, and equitable resource control.

For now, all eyes remain on Otuoke as Nigerians await the former president’s next public statement, which could either end the speculation or ignite a new wave of political realignment ahead of the 2027 polls.