Jonathan replies supporters urging him to re-contest in 2023

Former Nigerian leader Goodluck Jonathan has responded to calls from his supporters to join next year’s presidential race.

The former president on Friday addressed a crowd of supporters who besieged his office in Abuja.

“I cannot declare because some processes are still ongoing”, he told the group, Youth Compatriots of Nigeria.

“Yes, you are calling on me to come and declare for the next election. I cannot tell you I’m declaring. The political process is ongoing; just watch out. The key role you must play is that Nigeria must get somebody that will carry young people along.”

A spokesman for the group, Mayor Samuel, said they were calling on Jonathan to contest because they “were deceived and brainwashed by those who claimed they could do it in 2015.”

Jonathan lost his re-election bid as he was trounced by incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

Many Nigerians believed the administration he led was corrupt and incapable of solving Nigeria’s problem.

However, seven years after, there are concerns the current administration has not done better.