The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has said only the courts can determine whether former President Goodluck Jonathan is constitutionally qualified to contest the presidency again.
Jonathan, who was elected alongside ex-President Umar Musa YarÁdua in 2007, succeeded his boss who died on May 5, 2010. He served out the remainder of that term and secured a full 4-year term after winning the 2011 elections.
However, in 2015, he sought reelection but was defeated by late President Muhammadu Buhari.
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In a statement on Monday night, Onanuga stressed that Jonathan had the right to declare his ambition if he wished but noted that the judiciary would decide the matter.
“President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he wishes. It is his inalienable right to contest the presidency again. President Tinubu will wholeheartedly welcome him if he decides to enter the race. But Jonathan will have his date in the court of the land. Indeed, the jury will determine whether Jonathan, who was sworn in twice as president, satisfies the constitutional requirements and is eligible to contest the presidency and be sworn in, if successful, for a third term in office,” Onanuga said.
He also revisited Jonathan’s record in office, saying his administration left the economy in decline.
“We cannot forget in a hurry how his regime, devoid of any clear economic agenda, engaged in frivolous spending, ran the economy aground and put the country in dire straits. The nation’s economic downturn, which President Tinubu is working very hard to overcome, actually began under President Jonathan,” he said.
According to him, Jonathan inherited $66 billion in 2010, including $46 billion in foreign reserves and $20 billion in the Excess Crude Account, but by 2015 both had dropped significantly.
“By 2015, when the people democratically removed him from office, the foreign reserves had fallen below $30 billion, and the Excess Crude Account had been depleted to $2 billion, despite record oil revenue. By December 2014, the Jonathan-led Federal Government could no longer pay salaries to Federal Civil Servants. At least 28 states across the country owed workers huge salary arrears,” Onanuga stated.
He contrasted this with Tinubu’s economic policies, noting that reforms had boosted growth and restored investor confidence.
“In just over two years, President Tinubu has stabilised the economy. GDP grew by 4.23% in the second quarter of 2025, the highest in four years. Inflation decreased to 20.12% in August 2025, the lowest level in three years. Foreign reserves stand at $42.03 billion, and the naira has virtually stabilised,” he said.
Onanuga added that infrastructure projects and security initiatives were also being implemented, stressing that “the PDP and Jerry Gana’s co-travellers broke the economy; President Tinubu is fixing it.”
