Amid growing speculation over the political future of former President Goodluck Jonathan and efforts by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to draft him into the 2027 presidential race, the party’s factional National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, has insisted that Jonathan remains a registered member of the PDP.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Saturday May 30, 2026, Ememobong said the former president completed the party’s online registration process and has never publicly denied his membership, a claim he argued reinforces Jonathan’s eligibility to participate in the party’s internal political activities.
“I issued a statement some time ago in which I confirmed that Goodluck Jonathan is a registered member of a party. He completed the online registration and has not denied it,” Ememobong said.
The factional spokesman maintained that Jonathan remains a card-carrying member of the PDP and is therefore eligible to participate in the party’s internal political processes.
According to him, party members have the right to encourage any eligible member to seek elective office, stressing that Jonathan’s name emerged because many stakeholders believe he possesses the leadership qualities required to guide Nigeria through a difficult political and economic period.
Ememobong argued that the decision on whether to accept or reject calls to contest ultimately rests with the former president, noting that the PDP’s internal mechanisms allow members to nominate and support individuals they consider suitable for public office.
His comments come amid growing speculation over Jonathan’s political future and reports that some PDP stakeholders are pushing for the former president to return to active partisan politics ahead of the 2027 general election.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, has yet to publicly declare any intention to seek elective office in 2027.