Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Fred Agbedi, has defended efforts within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to project former President Goodluck Jonathan as its preferred candidate for the 2027 presidential election, insisting the former Nigerian leader should not be expected to publicly declare his interest before the party officially unveils him.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Monday, Agbedi argued that Jonathan remains the party’s “best” and “most precious” candidate, adding that the responsibility of presenting a presidential candidate rests with the political party rather than the aspirant.
Addressing questions over Jonathan’s silence despite growing speculation about his possible return to presidential politics, Agbedi said:
“It is not the place of President Goodluck Jonathan to declare that, ‘I’m in the race, I’m running.’ The PDP, to which he belongs, has its own strategic way of wanting to present a precious candidate. President Goodluck Jonathan is a precious candidate and, in a society that desires to develop and grow, you don’t wait for someone to tell you, ‘I want to be president.’ You scout for a good candidate who can bring dividends of democracy, uphold the rule of law and win elections.”
He maintained that the PDP was deliberately taking its time before unveiling Jonathan.
“What the PDP has been doing over time is to ensure that we bring our best into the 2027 presidential race. We have always said we want to specially package this candidate and present him to Nigerians in a way that has never been done before because President Goodluck Jonathan is a former president. This is the first time you are hearing about a former elected president being considered to return to the ballot. It is left for the party presenting him to publicly unveil him to Nigerians.”
Agbedi also defended the ongoing legal battle involving the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the party was merely seeking enforcement of existing court judgments regarding its leadership.
“We have been having a series of litigations. Based on judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, the Interim National Working Committee of the PDP came into being. When INEC did not upload our particulars to its portal, we went to court to enforce those judgments. The Federal High Court ruled against us and we are on appeal. This matter is still in litigation.”
He added:”We have to ensure that we follow through the entire gamut of legal processes. So long as the litigation is going on, this is a live matter and we believe victory will come at the end of the day.”
Agbedi insisted Jonathan enjoys widespread public support because of his experience both as a former president and as an international statesman.
“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is desired by Nigerians, not only by our party. Nigeria is in such a situation where you need somebody who has the capacity, the knowledge, the experience and the right education. He has been tested before and has acquired further experience outside the presidency through the global roles he has played. Nigerians have started realising that this is the man we need.”
He criticised the current administration, adding:
“From the point Nigerians voted him out and brought in the APC, the country has gone down completely. To bring this country back into the committee of nations, you need a man known by the world.”
Responding to comparisons between Jonathan and former military president Ibrahim Babangida, Agbedi dismissed the analogy.
“There is a difference between a military head of state and a civilian president. Babangida was a military president. Don’t compare the two. In a democracy, the people are at the centre. Military rule is an unconstitutional administration. An elected president derives legitimacy from the people.”
Agbedi argued that Jonathan’s international engagements should not prevent him from returning to national politics.
“If President Goodluck Jonathan is playing international roles globally and Nigeria does not exist as a respected nation, on what platform would he be playing those roles? Nigeria must first be doing well. We have bad administration at home. We have insecurity. We have many challenges. The person we believe understands the implementation of the rule of law and democracy should be persuaded to come back and salvage this country.”
He added:”Developed societies go in search of competent leaders. We want a leader Nigerians can trust, and that is in President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.”
Agbedi rejected suggestions that the campaign around Jonathan had embarrassed the former president.
“I don’t think you have been fair to us or to President Jonathan. It is not because he has not spoken that he has been ridiculed. In politics, two things happen. Either you seek an office yourself or people come to you because they believe you are good enough for the position. When people ask you to serve, there is even greater honour than when you simply wake up and announce that you want to contest.”
He also defended the party’s strategy of allowing Jonathan to remain silent for now.
“The way you present a former president into the race is different from the way an ordinary citizen declares for office. Did you see President Tinubu buying APC nomination forms or submitting them personally? The process is different.”
Asked whether Jonathan had consented to the campaign, Agbedi said the former president had never publicly rejected those promoting his candidacy.
“If you are saying President Jonathan has not spoken, has he also disowned the people speaking on his behalf? No, he has not. We are certain that people cannot just be speaking for President Jonathan without consultation.”
On concerns that promoting Jonathan could benefit other opposition candidates, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Agbedi declined to disclose the PDP’s political strategy.
“In politics, you must be strategic. It is not our place to disclose all our strategies. Election is a journey, not a one-day event. As we get closer to the election, certain strategies may emerge and what appears to be a divided opposition today could become one monolithic opposition against the ruling party.”
He concluded by expressing confidence that Jonathan would be victorious if eventually presented by the PDP.
“Leave politics for politicians. We know you are eager to hear our strategies, but we won’t disclose the entire gamut of strategies that will make us win the 2027 election.”
Asked whether Jonathan could win if he eventually appeared on the ballot, Agbedi responded:
“Once Jonathan gets on the ballot, I know that all of you sitting there will vote for him. You want a better Nigeria, don’t you? One man, one vote.”
Boluwatife Enome
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