CSOs, youths storm Jonathan’s office, urge him to contest 2027 elections

Thousands of youths under the aegis of the Coalition for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Wednesday stormed the Abuja office of the former president, calling on him to contest the 2027 presidential election. The demonstrators, who arrived in large numbers early in the morning, carried placards and banners bearing messages urging Jonathan to return to active […]

Thousands of youths under the aegis of the Coalition for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Wednesday stormed the Abuja office of the former president, calling on him to contest the 2027 presidential election.

The demonstrators, who arrived in large numbers early in the morning, carried placards and banners bearing messages urging Jonathan to return to active politics.

The crowd, which spilled from Taraba Close near Tanganyika Street and extended through Farmers Market to IBB Way in Abuja, disrupted early morning traffic as they chanted and danced to popular Nigerian songs.

Some of the placards read: “GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!” “GEJ, Nigerian youths break the medicine wey dem do you.” “GEJ, if you no run, we quench.”

Led by Dr. Tom Ohikere, the group’s national president and a former commissioner for information in Kogi State, the protesters waited for over three hours in anticipation of Jonathan’s appearance, but he did not show up.

They subsequently addressed the media, reading from a prepared statement.

Ohikere said: “Everywhere that we have visited in the course of our nationwide consultation over a period of six months, the clamour for his return to power to rescue our country has been loud and unmistakable.”

He described the former president as a unifying figure capable of reversing what he termed the country’s looming challenges.

Jonathan, however, did not receive the group, which described itself as “visitors.” The protesters eventually dispersed before the former president arrived at about 1pm.

Sources indicated that Jonathan and his aides had no prior knowledge of the visit, a development that reportedly caused some confusion within his camp.

Despite this, the coalition vowed to return as many times as necessary until they receive a response from him.

The demonstration remained peaceful, with participants drawn from different states chanting slogans and displaying placards appealing directly to the former president to heed what they described as a national call.

As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been issued by Jonathan, who is known for his remark: “My ambition is not worth any blood.”

His spokesperson has also not publicly responded to the latest appeal.

Wednesday’s protest adds to a growing wave of calls from groups within Nigeria and the diaspora urging Jonathan to reconsider a return to active politics.

Over the past 12 months, several organisations have openly advocated his comeback.

These include the Goodluck Nigeria Movement, which recently announced plans to mobilise nationwide support to persuade him to contest.

Also among them is the Nigeria Rescue Mission Organisation, led by a former Buhari Youth Organisation president, which has urged Jonathan to step forward as a unifying leader.

Similarly, the New Nigeria Integrity Movement (NNIM) – Middle Belt Zone, in March 2026, highlighted Jonathan’s leadership qualities as critical to stabilising the country.

Diaspora-based groups have also joined the call, including the Goodluckans Movement 2027, whose spokesperson, Chidinma Unigwe, has publicly urged Jonathan to contest, citing his democratic credentials and governance experience.