2027 POWER GAME: Jonathan’s Comeback Bid Hits Storm As David Mark Rejects Automatic ADC Ticket

Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s quiet moves to stage a dramatic political comeback in 2027 may have run into a brick wall after a tense closed-door meeting with Senator David Mark, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in Abuja on Thursday.

The parley, held at Mark’s private residence, centered on Jonathan’s ambition to return to Aso Rock through the coalition party. But sources at the meeting revealed that the former president left without the assurances he desperately sought.

According to insiders, Mark bluntly told Jonathan that the ADC would not grant him an automatic presidential ticket. Instead, he advised the former leader to officially register with the party and slug it out at the primaries like any other aspirant.

Jonathan, who had hoped to secure a firm commitment, was reportedly unsettled by the development. Both men eventually agreed to revisit the matter at a later date.

Jonathan is not alone in eyeing the ADC ticket. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi are also holding consultations with party leaders. However, none of the heavyweights appear ready to fully commit without guaranteed backing.

“The fear is simple — no one wants to be politically stranded after losing an ADC primary,” a source familiar with the discussions disclosed.

Atiku, according to party insiders, currently dominates the ADC machinery, allegedly controlling up to 70 percent of its structure. This overwhelming influence has left little room for Jonathan or Obi to maneuver.

Some party leaders have floated the idea of pairing Obi as a running mate, but no one has dared to challenge Atiku’s towering influence or persuade him to step aside.

Obi, meanwhile, has maintained that power should rotate southward and has promised to serve only one term if elected. Yet, he has drawn a red line: he will not contest a primary against Atiku in Adamawa State — effectively closing the door on both men vying under the same platform unless Atiku bows out.

Jonathan’s Dilemma

For Jonathan, the ADC presents both an opportunity and a trap. Some northern political blocs reportedly see him as a compromise candidate, given he can only serve one term under the constitution. But his traditional South-East base now stands firmly behind Obi, weakening his grassroots support.

“He faces two uphill battles — convincing ADC to hand him the ticket and then selling himself again to the northern electorate,” one insider noted.

Even more telling, Jonathan’s preference for the ADC signals a likely departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party he once led. His camp reportedly believes the PDP has become too “toxic” — riddled with infighting and legal disputes — to serve as a viable comeback platform.

For now, ADC remains his only realistic option. But without a guaranteed ticket and with Atiku’s firm grip on the party, Jonathan’s second shot at the presidency hangs in the balance.