“Shehu Sani Blasts PDP Faction Over Jonathan 2027 Push: ‘They Want Him To Carry The Coffin’”

Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has slammed efforts by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party to draft former President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race, describing the move as politically desperate and too late.

The outspoken former lawmaker reacted after reports emerged that a PDP faction had adopted Jonathan as its preferred presidential candidate ahead of the next general election.

In a sharp post shared on his verified X account on Monday, Sani argued that those now campaigning for Jonathan’s return failed to support him when the opposition party still had stronger political relevance and national influence.

According to him, the PDP had a far better opportunity to present Jonathan as a serious contender during the 2023 election cycle when the party structure was more united and electorally competitive.

“If they actually wanted Jonathan, they should have fielded him in 2023 when the party was relatively alive and in good shape,” Sani wrote.

He then delivered a stinging remark that quickly sparked reactions online: “They just now want him to help them carry the coffin.”

The comment appears to suggest that the former senator believes the current push for Jonathan is more about rescuing the PDP’s declining political fortunes than genuinely offering the former president a realistic pathway back to power.

The renewed talks around Jonathan’s possible return have continued to generate debate within Nigeria’s political space, especially following recent court decisions affirming his eligibility to contest future presidential elections.

Supporters of the former president argue that his experience, calm leadership style and past electoral appeal could make him a strong opposition figure ahead of 2027. Critics, however, insist the conversations reflect deeper cracks within the opposition as parties scramble for relevance against the ruling APC.

Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president between 2010 and 2015, has not publicly declared interest in contesting the 2027 election.