Only Jonathan/Kwankwaso ticket can upstage Tinubu in 2027 — PDP Chieftain

A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, Emma Umerah, has declared that only a presidential ticket featuring Goodluck Jonathan and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso can unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

Umerah made the statement during a chat with journalists in Lagos on Monday, March 9, 2026.

He added that Jonathan would serve only one term and redirect the nation on the path of political, economic, and social growth and development, which he said is currently lacking in Nigeria.

Umerah, a former national member of the Atiku Campaign Council, maintained that Goodluck Jonathan is a gentleman to the core and a man who keeps agreements.

He said, “As a gentleman, during the 2015 election, he accepted defeat and congratulated Muhammadu Buhari. If he were not a gentleman, he would not have accepted defeat, and the country would have been in turmoil. But he allowed peace to reign because he did not want trouble in Nigeria.”

Umerah further stated that as a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is an experienced politician from northern Nigeria with a large following, noting that he would bring massive support and also assuage the North’s desire to dislodge the incumbent president.

He stated that while piloting the affairs of the country as president, Jonathan’s administration (2010–2015) was characterized by significant transformations.

According to him, Jonathan transformed Nigeria into Africa’s largest economy in 2014 through GDP rebasing and ensured notable infrastructure development in railways, airports, and roads, while also strengthening democratic institutions through electoral reforms.

Umerah further said that Jonathan’s administration implemented several fiscal reforms, including the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

He added that the administration invested heavily in infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and power generation, while also launching initiatives to boost agricultural productivity and food security.

“Jonathan’s leadership style emphasized consensus-building,” Umerah said. “He is known for his ability to build consensus and negotiate with different stakeholders. His leadership style emphasized inclusiveness and dialogue, and he has a reputation for seeking peaceful resolutions to conflicts.”

Umerah also highlighted what he described as Jonathan’s achievements in office, including the creation of 12 federal universities and the boosting of local content in the oil sector.

He said the administration implemented policies that encouraged agricultural investment and reduced food imports, thereby boosting local production.

On the Local Content Law, he noted that Jonathan signed the Nigerian Content Act in 2010, empowering indigenous companies in the oil and gas sector.
He added that the administration also revamped the national railway system through the rehabilitation of rail lines and the introduction of new routes, including the Abuja–Kaduna line.

In the aviation sector, Umerah said Jonathan remodeled all 22 federal airports and installed modern navigation equipment.

He also stated that the administration invested in key road projects, including the rehabilitation of the Lagos–Benin Expressway and the initiation of the Second Niger Bridge project.

“Goodluck ensured democratic reforms and good governance, which enhanced electoral integrity,” he said.

“He strengthened the Independent National Electoral Commission, resulting in more credible elections. Jonathan was also widely praised for conceding the 2015 presidential election, which bolstered democratic stability in Nigeria.”

On freedom of expression, Umerah said Jonathan encouraged and maintained a largely free press with minimal government interference, marking a departure from previous eras.

Aside from establishing 12 new federal universities to increase access to tertiary education, he also initiated the Almajiri Education Programme, building over 160 special schools to integrate modern education into Islamic learning systems in northern Nigeria.

On women’s empowerment, he noted that Jonathan appointed women to significant positions, including the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria and the first female President of the Court of Appeal.

In health and technology, he said, Jonathan’s response to the Ebola virus disease crisis was swift, adding that the administration led an effective and internationally recognized response that successfully contained the outbreak in 2014.