Goodluck Jonathan, the former president, responded to calls from youth organizations for him to run in the 2027 election.

On Thursday, May 7, Jonathan gave a speech to a group of young people who came to his Abuja office to urge him to run for president.

In response to the appeal, the former president stated that he would consult with many people before making a decision.

“You are asking me to come and contest the next election. Presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you and I’ll consult widely,” he said. 

The former president commended the youths for showing interest in the country, describing patriotism as essential to nation-building. 

“If you have no interest in the country, you will not bother to be here,” he added. 

Jonathan also urged young Nigerians to promote peace and credible elections, warning that the absence of transparent electoral processes discourages competent citizens from participating in politics. 

“The key thing we need in this country is peace. 

“You continue to advocate for that. And you continue to advocate for peaceful and credible elections in the country. Because if we don’t have peaceful and credible elections, most good citizens will not want to bother to get involved in politics,” he said. 

The former president lamented Nigeria’s low voter turnout, saying the country records one of the poorest participation rates during elections despite having a large voting population. 

“I’ve observed elections in about 14 or more African countries and even Southeast Asia. Nigeria has the lowest turnout in every election cycle. 

“I think INEC needs to do something about it. They need to start to get consultants to look at it. And what is the cause? As young people, you must be involved in the electoral process,” he stated. 

Jonathan challenged the youths to participate actively in the electoral process by obtaining voter cards and voting during elections. 

AB