Thousands of youths and civil society groups on Wednesday staged a protest outside the Abuja office of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, calling on him to contest the 2027 presidential election.
RoundReports understands that the demonstrators, operating under the banner of the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan, converged on Taraba Close near Tanganyika Street.
The procession stretched through the Farmers Market axis to IBB Way, caused notable disruption to early morning traffic in the area.
Chanting and dancing to popular Nigerian songs, protesters held placards with messages including “GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!,” “GEJ, Nigerian youths break the medicine wey dem do you,” and “GEJ, if you no run, we quench.”
Led by the coalition’s national president, Dr Tom Ohikere, the group waited for more than three hours for the former president to arrive, however, reports said that Jonathan did not appear.
Speaking to journalists, Ohikere said the call for Jonathan’s return followed six months of consultations across the country.
“Everywhere that we have visited in the course of our nationwide consultation, the clamour for his return to power to rescue our country has been loud and unmistakable,” he said.
He described Jonathan as “the only unifying force that can reverse the impending catastrophe looming over Nigeria.”
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The protesters, who referred to themselves as “visitors,” dispersed before Jonathan reportedly arrived at the office at about 1 pm.
Reports added that said neither Jonathan nor his aides had prior notice of the visit, leading to confusion within his camp.
Despite the lack of engagement, the coalition said it would continue to return until it receives a response from the former president.
The protest was described as peaceful, with participants drawn from several states.
As of the time of filing this report, Jonathan had not issued an official statement.
He is widely associated with the comment: “My ambition is not worth any blood.” His spokesperson has also not responded publicly to the latest appeals.
Wednesday’s demonstration adds to growing calls from groups within Nigeria and the diaspora urging Jonathan to reconsider a return to active politics.
These include the Goodluck Nigeria Movement, the Nigeria Rescue Mission Organisation, and the New Nigeria Integrity Movement, Middle Belt Zone, which in March 2026 cited his leadership credentials as vital to national stability.
Diaspora-based groups, including the Goodluckans Movement 2027, have also intensified their lobbying, with spokesperson Chidinma Unigwe pointing to Jonathan’s democratic record and governance experience as reasons for him to re-enter the race.