Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Lagos State, has shared his thoughts on former President Goodluck Jonathan’s potential return to politics in 2027. With some PDP members reportedly wooing Jonathan to run on their platform, Rhodes-Vivour believes Jonathan’s single term makes him a force to reckon with, particularly among northerners backing him. However, he questions Jonathan’s viability as a presidential candidate, given his previous experience as president and having sworn the oath of office twice.

It’s worth noting that Rhodes-Vivour has recently defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing the need to strengthen a broad coalition of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. His comments on Jonathan’s potential candidacy come as the political landscape continues to evolve, with various opposition groups exploring alliances and strategies to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said, “It is a major consideration because a lot of people feel it is the southerner’s time to rule. Considering that the country just had eight years of a northern president who was extremely divisive. Unfortunately, President Tinubu’s coming has been even more divisive and has literally created a government that does not reflect the Nigerian nation.

“That said, it is still time for the South, and the thing about Jonathan is that he cannot do more than one term. The northerners who are behind him are very comfortable with that, so that makes him a force. Whether he comes out or not will be an entirely different topic because he has a lot to lose if he does not win the presidency.

“He has been president for six and a half years. That is almost eight years, and there is an issue that he swore an oath of office twice. When you also consider the Supreme Court as it is today, I am not sure if he will get through, given the current setup of our judiciary.”