By Ismaeel Aleem
The Zamfara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Presidency of targeting former President Goodluck Jonathan to deflect attention from the failures of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued in Gusau on Tuesday, PDP State Chairman Hon. Jamilu Magayaki described the Presidency’s criticism, voiced by Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, as a sign of growing anxiety within the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the opposition’s strengthening position ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Magayaki argued that the APC’s focus on Jonathan, prompted by Professor Jerry Gana’s claim that he will contest under the PDP, betrays their fear of his enduring popularity.
“If Jonathan’s record was truly disastrous, why does the mere suggestion of his return in 2027 unsettle the APC?” he questioned.
He highlighted Jonathan’s tenure (2010–2015) as a period marked by relative peace, democratic stability, and economic steadiness, contrasting it with the current challenges of insecurity, hunger, inflation, and economic decline under Tinubu’s leadership.
The PDP chairman asserted that Nigerians are increasingly disillusioned with the APC’s governance after over two years in office, marked by unfulfilled promises and deteriorating living conditions.
“The ruling party’s constant reference to Jonathan shows its inability to defend its own record,” Magayaki stated, accusing the Presidency of using Jonathan as a scapegoat to mask its shortcomings.
He expressed confidence that public discontent would propel the PDP back to power in 2027, with Jonathan’s potential candidacy resonating due to nostalgia for his administration’s achievements.
Magayaki’s remarks align with the PDP’s strategy to capitalise on the APC’s vulnerabilities, particularly in northern states like Zamfara, where the party has reconciled factions under Senator Abdulaziz Yari and Bello Matawalle.
