Former President Goodluck Jonathan has officially distanced himself from a viral Instagram post that appeared to hint at his potential candidacy in Nigeria's 2027 presidential election.
The controversial Instagram post, which has garnered over 16,000 views, 1,247 comments, and 248 shares, criticized current leadership and suggested Jonathan might return to power. "Since our current leaders are pretending to sleep, we pray that we will get our good leadership back in 2027; your choice will determine the betterment of our future," the post stated.
The post reportedly featured an image of Jonathan shaking hands with United States President Donald Trump, further fueling speculation about the former president's political ambitions.
However, when contacted on Friday, Jonathan's spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, categorically denied any connection to the social media account. "Former President Jonathan does not own an Instagram account," Eze clarified to BenriNews.
Persistent Speculation Amid Statesmanship
Since leaving office in 2015 after conceding defeat to former President Muhammadu Buhari in what was widely regarded as a landmark election, Jonathan has been the subject of recurring speculation about a potential return to presidential politics.
Despite these rumors, some reportedly originating from within his own camp, the former Nigerian leader has consistently maintained a statesmanlike posture. His post-presidency activities have largely focused on promoting democracy and peace-building efforts across West Africa rather than domestic political positioning.
The timing of this latest social media controversy comes as Nigeria's political landscape begins to shift toward the 2027 election cycle, with various political figures already making early positioning moves.
Political analysts note that Jonathan, who served as Nigeria's president from 2010 to 2015, maintains significant goodwill among certain segments of the Nigerian population, particularly following his peaceful handover of power – a gesture that strengthened Nigeria's democratic credentials.
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