The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Fred Agbedi, has defended efforts within the Peoples Democratic Party to position former President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2027 presidential race, saying the former Nigerian leader should not be expected to publicly declare interest before the party formally presents him.
Speaking during an interview with another media house, the ARISE NEWS on Monday, Agbedi said Jonathan remains the PDP’s “best” and “most precious” candidate, adding that the duty of presenting a presidential candidate lies with the party, not the aspirant.
His remarks come amid fresh speculation over Jonathan’s possible return to frontline politics nearly a decade after leaving office.
The discussion has continued to draw attention because Jonathan, who governed Nigeria from 2010 to 2015, has maintained public silence while supporters within the PDP keep pushing his name.
Party Strategy And Jonathan’s Silence
Agbedi said the PDP was following a deliberate strategy and did not need Jonathan to rush into declaring ambition in public.
He said, “It is not the place of President Goodluck Jonathan to declare that, ‘I’m in the race, I’m running.’ The PDP, to which he belongs, has its own strategic way of wanting to present a precious candidate.”
According to him, the party believes Jonathan can still serve as a strong platform for the 2027 contest because of his experience, his past record in office and his perceived national appeal.
He added, “President Goodluck Jonathan is a precious candidate and, in a society that desires to develop and grow, you don’t wait for someone to tell you, ‘I want to be president.’ You scout for a good candidate who can bring dividends of democracy, uphold the rule of law and win elections.”
Agbedi also said the PDP wants to present the former president in a special way, arguing that his case is different from that of ordinary aspirants because he is a former elected president.
He said, “What the PDP has been doing over time is to ensure that we bring our best into the 2027 presidential race. We have always said we want to specially package this candidate and present him to Nigerians in a way that has never been done before.”
The lawmaker also insisted that Jonathan’s silence does not mean rejection. In his view, people promoting the former president’s candidacy would not do so without consultation.
Legal Battle And Wider Debate
Agbedi also spoke about the PDP’s legal dispute with the Independent National Electoral Commission, saying the party was only trying to enforce earlier court decisions relating to its leadership.
He said, “We have been having a series of litigations. Based on judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, the Interim National Working Committee of the PDP came into being. When INEC did not upload our particulars to its portal, we went to court to enforce those judgments.”
He said the Federal High Court ruled against the party, but the matter is still at the appeal stage. That means the case is still active and has not reached a final legal end.
The PDP lawmaker also argued that Jonathan enjoys support beyond party lines because of his experience as a former president and his work on the international stage.
He said Nigeria needs a leader with knowledge, education, maturity and the capacity to restore confidence in governance.
Agbedi further criticised the current administration, saying the country has declined since the APC took power. He also dismissed comparisons between Jonathan and former military president Ibrahim Babangida, saying civilian and military rule cannot be treated the same.
He said, “There is a difference between a military head of state and a civilian president. Babangida was a military president. Don’t compare the two.”
On whether Jonathan’s global engagements make a return unlikely, Agbedi said Nigeria must first be in good shape before its former leader can fully represent the country abroad. He argued that a respected nation gives its leaders stronger credibility internationally.
The PDP chieftain also brushed aside claims that the campaign around Jonathan has embarrassed him, saying it is common in politics for people to ask capable figures to serve rather than wait for them to self-declare.
He said, “The way you present a former president into the race is different from the way an ordinary citizen declares for office.”
Agbedi declined to reveal the PDP’s larger strategy for the 2027 election, saying politics requires timing and discretion. However, he expressed confidence that if Jonathan is eventually placed on the ballot, he would attract strong support.
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