Goodluck Jonathan Faces Mounting Pressure from Niger Delta Stakeholders to Drop 2027 Presidential Bid

Former President Goodluck Jonathan is reportedly under intense pressure from prominent leaders in the Niger Delta region to abandon his rumored plan to contest the 2027 presidential elections. The growing consensus among regional power brokers is that Jonathan should instead throw his considerable weight behind the re-election bid of incumbent President Bola Tinubu.

This political movement came to a head on October 16 with a high-stakes, private visit to Jonathan’s Otuoke home in Bayelsa State. The delegation was led by the influential ex-militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, marking his first public appearance in nearly a decade—an indication of the gravity of the mission.

Tinubu’s Projects Drive Regional Alignment
Multiple impeccable sources confirmed that the hours-long meeting was intensely political, despite Jonathan’s public statements that discussions focused on peace and stability in the Niger Delta. Insiders revealed that Tompolo’s core message was aimed at discouraging Jonathan’s alleged presidential ambition and urging him to fully support President Tinubu’s quest for a second term in 2027.

The primary justification for this regional shift is the perceived developmental impact of the Tinubu administration in the Niger Delta. Stakeholders reportedly feel that President Tinubu “has done a lot for the region,” citing key projects such as the commencement of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the approval of a university for Ogoni land. This momentum has reportedly convinced many elites that the continuity offered by a Tinubu re-election is in the region’s best interest.

A Unified Front Against a Third Attempt
Tompolo, a staunch ally of President Tinubu and the beneficiary of a renewed multi-billion-naira pipeline surveillance contract, leads a grassroots political structure known as the ‘PBAT Door-to-Door Movement’. During the meeting, Tompolo was reportedly “very frank,” advising Jonathan that the psyche of Niger Deltans was not in favor of his return to power, with many preferring Tinubu to continue until 2031.

Tompolo reportedly pointed to the actions of others in Jonathan’s inner circle as proof of the regional sentiment: former First Lady Patience Jonathan has already publicly endorsed President Tinubu, and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri is reportedly planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The consensus presented to Jonathan was clear: without “home support,” any bid to challenge Tinubu would be unsuccessful. Tompolo urged Jonathan to remain a respected statesman and use his influence to deliver the Niger Delta votes to President Tinubu in 2027, even if he chooses not to defect to the APC.

Jonathan, appreciating the counsel, promised to review the advice and make his final decision known in due course, leaving the political future of one of Nigeria’s most prominent statesmen hanging in the balance.