Dr. Jibril Mustapha, President of the Nigeria Rescue Mission Organisation and former head of the Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO), has called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement released Sunday in Lagos, Mustapha urged Jonathan to heed the call to return to national leadership, emphasizing the country’s dire need for a unifying figure.
“As Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections, the Nigeria Rescue Mission Organisation believes it is time for all stakeholders to rally behind a candidate who genuinely represents the interests of all Nigerians,” Mustapha said. “We urge former President Goodluck Jonathan to step forward as a candidate who can unite our country and lead us toward a brighter future.”
Mustapha cited Nigeria’s current challenges—including economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, and rampant banditry—as urgent reasons why an experienced and inclusive leader like Jonathan is needed.
According to Mustapha, Jonathan’s prior tenure demonstrated a commitment to democratic principles and citizen welfare, values that Nigeria desperately needs to reclaim.
“Jonathan’s leadership style fosters inclusivity and economic advancement, which is exactly what our nation needs at this critical juncture,” he said. “Under Jonathan’s leadership, Nigeria can work toward restoring its lost glory both internationally and domestically.”
Background and Legal Standing
The Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO), which Mustapha formerly led, was a youth-based support group for ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. Jonathan had lost his second-term bid to Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.
Amid debates over Jonathan’s eligibility to run again, a Federal High Court ruling in Bayelsa in 2022 confirmed that Jonathan could legally contest. Justice Dashen ruled that no presidential election took place in 2010 that would count against Jonathan under Section 137 of the Constitution, making him eligible for future contests.
