{FROM TOBIAS EKIRIKA, Onitsha}
Chief Ben Uzuegbunam, a distinguished lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Anambra State, has urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to reconsider his intention to run in the 2027 presidential election.
The legal expert from Onitsha highlighted several reasons that would hinder the former president’s chances of success in the election.
Despite increasing pressure to announce his candidacy, Jonathan has publicly stated that he is “consulting widely” and has not formally declared his intentions.
In an interview with journalists in Onitsha, Uzuegbunam commented that while Jonathan has the right to participate, he would likely not come close to winning.
He stated, “Goodluck Jonathan is a highly intelligent individual who carefully weighs his choices. He is aware that the South East, which has historically supported him, now sees many of his constituents in the South South aligning with the ruling APC, NDC, and other political parties. As a strategic thinker, he will recognize the various challenges he faces and may choose not to enter the race.”
Uzuegbunam added, “Jonathan knows that in his pursuit for the presidency in 2027, he faces the risk of losing his support base in the South East to Peter Obi, despite the clamor from other political figures. Additionally, his popularity has waned in the South South, his own region, as many have shifted their allegiance to different political parties.”
In Bayelsa, Jonathan’s home state, his ally, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, leads the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), which is expected to perform well in Bayelsa, Rivers, and other South South states. Therefore, even if the courts permit him to run in 2027, Uzuegbunam believes that Jonathan is unlikely to enter the fray.
