A member of the House of Representatives, Fred Agbedi, has said the return of former President Goodluck Jonathan to the 2027 presidential race would “upset the entire political atmosphere” in Nigeria, insisting that court judgments and constitutional amendments have cleared every legal hurdle surrounding his eligibility to contest again.
Agbedi stated this on Politics Today on Channels Television, where he said Jonathan still commands significant national political influence and remains one of the few leaders capable of stabilising the country amid rising economic hardship and insecurity.
He said, “It will upset the entire political atmosphere. Jonathan still carries national political clout and is even more prepared for the job.”
The lawmaker maintained that the Court of Appeal and earlier court decisions had already affirmed Jonathan’s eligibility to seek office again, while constitutional amendments by the National Assembly further clarified the issue.
“We are excited and happy that justice prevailed in the judgment of the Court of Appeal. Whatever doubts that were in the air have been consolidated by the judgments affirming his eligibility.”
Agbedi explained that the constitutional amendment on tenure was introduced to address ambiguities over whether a president or governor who completed another person’s tenure could still contest for two fresh terms.
According to him, the amendment was not retroactive and therefore did not affect Jonathan’s previous tenure.
“The clarity of the judgments and the amendment is that Jonathan can do another four years. That is the end of the issue,” he stated.
The federal lawmaker also defended punitive measures imposed against those who challenged Jonathan’s eligibility in court, describing the suit as an abuse of court process.
“The court said it was an abuse of court process because the matter had already been settled,” he added.
Agbedi argued that many Nigerians were now calling for Jonathan’s return because of worsening socio-economic conditions in the country.
“Nigerians are saying there is a man they trust to stabilise this country. After the years of Buhari and now Tinubu, people believe Jonathan is needed again.”
He also commented on the leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, insisting that court judgments had invalidated the former National Working Committee of the party.
According to him, the party’s Board of Trustees moved in to stabilise the PDP by appointing an interim leadership structure after the court rulings.
Agbedi further accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of failing to fully comply with court decisions regarding the party’s leadership dispute.