The closed-door meeting between Senator David Mark, national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and former President Goodluck Jonathan, was all about the ex-Nigerian leader's purported ambition to return to office in the 2027 presidential election.

As reported by The Nation on Sunday, September 28, the meeting which happened in Abuja on Thursday, September 25, centred on Jonathan’s speculated 2027 election ambition.

But the former president’s desire to secure the ticket of the coalition party may have experienced a hitch as Mark pointedly told him that the only way his dream of picking the party’s ticket could materialise was to formally join it and also take part in a 'fair and transparent' presidential primary.

With Jonathan failing to get a commitment from the party’s national chairman, the two statesmen agreed to “meet soon to review the matter.”

According to a source, Jonathan’s audience with Mark could be an indication that the former president is “not keen on running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)."

Alleged situation in Jonathan’s camp

A highly-placed source, who was privy to what transpired between Mark and Jonathan, said the ADC chairman ruled out automatic ticket for any aspirant.

Mark’s response was said to be “not too convincing” for Jonathan and his strategists.

The source said:

“His host was pleased to welcome him to his residence. He told him to join ADC if he wants to contest. It was clear at the meeting that PDP is not a likely option because of the plethora of cases and infighting. “So far, the only option for Jonathan is to join ADC. Mark was, however, quick to tell him that there will be fair and transparent primary election.”

Asked of the meeting’s outcome, the source added:

“They would meet in due course to review the matter."

Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election to late former president Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but has since then taken a back seat politically, though he has been linked to presidential contest since 2023.

In the build up to the 2023 elections, a group was reported to have paid N100 million to obtain a form for him to participate in the APC presidential primary. However, GEJ, as Jonathan is fondly called, did not partake in the poll.

Prophecy on Goodluck Jonathan

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Primate Elijah Ayodele alleged that members of President Bola Tinubu's cabinet are insincere individuals.

Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church (IESC), Lagos, prophesied about the possibility of Jonathan contesting in the 2027 election.