The Taminu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained why it adopted former President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Trust TV on Tuesday, PDP stalwart Umar Sani said the party considered the mood of Nigerians and the interests of voters across the country before arriving at the decision.
According to Sani, Jonathan’s administration between 2010 and 2015 left lasting memories for many Nigerians, making him a strong figure capable of attracting nationwide support.
“We have to look at the interests of our voters all over the country and look at how we can penetrate those voters and be able to get them to support us,” Sani said.
“One of the interests is to have one term as a president, and it will appeal to a certain category of voters. It is, of course, in our interest to project that.”
He added that nostalgia surrounding Jonathan’s time in office played a major role in the party’s decision.
“Nevertheless, the most important reason why we brought Jonathan is because of the nostalgia that Nigerians have for him,” he stated.
Sani noted that many Nigerians often compare current economic realities with conditions during Jonathan’s administration.
“If you meet an ordinary man in the street and he was there during Jonathan’s period, he will tell you that a bag of rice was sold for N7,500 or N8,000. And also, these are some of the allures that people remember him for,” he added.
The PDP faction had earlier disclosed that Jonathan would be screened as the party’s sole presidential aspirant ahead of its primaries for the 2027 elections.
