A former aide who served during his presidency told Daily Trust that Jonathan’s inner circle has begun wide-ranging consultations to assess whether there is strong national support for him to contest.

reports that the source also noted that those encouraging Jonathan’s return believe he has the experience and capacity to tackle Nigeria’s current challenges.

The source explained that supporters pushing for his comeback are convinced he has the ability to improve the country’s situation.

“People coming to ask Jonathan to join the presidential race have seen the situation in the country and believe that he has what it takes to turn things around. So, normally, the president will not want to turn them down,” the source said.

However, the source added that Jonathan is weighing the differences in the current political climate compared to when he was in office, particularly rising insecurity and the state of opposition politics.

“So while the ex-president will want to contribute to national development, these are issues he is carefully considering with his allies, and he is expected to make a decision known in the coming days,” the source added.

Udenta Declines Comment

Meanwhile, Udenta Udenta, a known supporter of Jonathan during the 2015 elections, declined to comment on the former president’s potential ambition.

He said Jonathan is still consulting and should be given time to conclude his discussions before making any public declaration.

“What do you want me to say since the man has said he is still consulting? I’ve always supported Jonathan and Peter Obi, but one is still consulting while the other is already in the race,” Udenta said.

“He has not made up his mind yet. Until then, I cannot speak for him.”

reports that Otache made the remarks during an interview on ARISE Television, where he said the internal crisis remains unresolved despite recent reconciliation attempts, warning that tensions are escalating ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s recent intervention only highlighted deeper divisions within the party, as conflicting accounts emerged from both camps after separate stakeholder meetings.

Otache argued that the lingering crisis is less about political rivalry and more about weak leadership and poor political management.

He said, “The political atmosphere in Benue State is hotter than the atmosphere in Iraq and Iran. There has never been peace in the Benue APC from 2023 till date.”

He added that while the SGF briefed stakeholders on one version of events, Governor Alia presented a contradictory account to the media.

Otache attributed the ongoing crisis to what he described as inexperience among key political actors in the state.

He criticised Governor Alia’s leadership style, claiming the governor had limited political background before assuming office, which he said has contributed to worsening divisions within the party.

“He has never contested even for a councillor. As a leader, your heart must be as large as the Atlantic Ocean to accommodate diverse views,” he stated.

The APC chieftain also accused the governor of disregarding party structures and ignoring court rulings concerning the party’s internal affairs in Benue State.

He further alleged that several reconciliation efforts initiated by party leaders, including interventions linked to the President, had either been ignored or failed to yield results.

“There was a valid court ruling nullifying his action. The President gave directives, but the governor reportedly set it aside,” he said.

Otache warned that failure to resolve the crisis before the 2027 elections could lead to serious consequences for the party.

He also lamented that governance in Benue State has been negatively affected by the ongoing political tension, describing the current administration’s performance as below expectations.

“Governance in Benue State is at the lowest ebb. The party is not together as we speak,” he said.

He concluded that urgent reconciliation is necessary to prevent further fragmentation within the APC in Benue State and avoid possible electoral setbacks in 2027.