A former presidential aide, Umar Sani, says former President Goodluck Jonathan has purchased a presidential nomination form ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Sani, who served as spokesperson to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, made this claim on Trust TV. He said Jonathan’s recent political moves and meetings show he may be preparing to run for president again, nearly 12 years after leaving office.

Although Jonathan has not publicly announced his candidacy or said which party he would run under, Sani said his actions speak louder than words. One of the first steps for any candidate is to get a nomination form, and Sani insists Jonathan has done that.

“In politics, what matters is action. If you are interested, there are steps to follow, and one of them is getting nomination forms. He has done that,” Sani said.

When asked directly if Jonathan had obtained the form, Sani replied, “Yes, and in fact, he is about to come and submit the forms publicly.”

Sani suggested that the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be why Jonathan is being cautious. The former president might be watching how things unfold in the party before making a formal announcement.

Jonathan has stayed away from frontline politics in recent years, focusing instead on diplomacy and mediation roles within Africa.

Eligibility Challenge

Sani also said he is confident that a legal challenge against Jonathan’s eligibility to run for president again will fail. He argued that the courts have already settled this matter, and it cannot be taken up again at the same level.

“We are confident the case will be thrown out. You cannot reopen something that has already been decided,” Sani said.

He said only the Supreme Court has the power to overturn earlier rulings on Jonathan’s eligibility. The pending case before Justice Peter Lifu is expected to be heard on May 26.

Why Jonathan Still Matters

Sani dismissed claims that some politicians are just using Jonathan’s name to stay relevant. He said many Nigerians have fond memories of Jonathan’s time in office and are now comparing it to later governments.

“Most Nigerians know him and feel nostalgic about Jonathan. When he left office, many felt the PDP was not performing, but now Nigerians have clearly seen the difference,” Sani added.

Jonathan served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015 and lost his reelection bid to Muhammadu Buhari, backed by Tinubu and a big PDP heavyweight that wants him back now. Since leaving office, he has kept a low political profile, working on peace missions, election monitoring, and diplomatic assignments across Africa. His recent meetings have fueled talk of a possible political comeback.