The political temperature is heating up ahead of 2027 as Azibaola Robert, cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has waded into the ongoing debate about Jonathan’s eligibility to run again. His comments came in response to Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, SAN, and human rights lawyer, Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, who both argued that Jonathan is constitutionally barred from contesting.
Robert strongly disagreed, stressing that Jonathan is “100% constitutionally and legally qualified” to vie for the presidency if he chooses to. He reminded his colleagues that he too is a lawyer and a veteran of the 1990s pro-democracy struggle, claiming he was “a better activist than both of you combined.” His fiery remarks were shared in a lengthy Facebook post that has since sparked fresh political conversations.
Jonathan, who first assumed office as acting president in 2010 following the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, later won the 2011 election under the PDP before handing over to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. Now, with murmurs growing louder that he may be the only viable opposition figure against President Bola Tinubu in 2027, Robert insists the question of disqualification is a non-issue.
Closing his message, Robert urged Keyamo and Odinkalu to stop offering “unsolicited legal advice,” noting that Jonathan already has seasoned SANs handling such matters. In his words, “GEJ’s decision not to contest, if that’s what he chooses, will never be because he is not qualified.”
