Former President Goodluck Jonathan has challenged Nigerians demanding his return to politics. He made the remarks in Abuja on Thursday when a large group of youths visited his residence.
Jonathan told the visiting youths to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards before pushing him to run. "Probably 50% of you don't even have voters cards and you're asking me to contest the election," he said.
He stressed that young Nigerians must take the electoral process seriously. Citizens cannot advocate for leadership change without participating in elections themselves, he noted.
Jonathan also directed criticism at INEC over growing voter apathy across the nation. He lamented that many Nigerians have lost interest in participating in electoral activities.
The former leader warned that widespread disengagement from the electoral process threatened Nigeria's democracy. He urged the commission to address the concerning trend with urgency.
Jonathan was sworn in as president on May 5, 2010, following the death of President Umaru Yar'Adua. He won the April 2011 elections and took the oath again on May 29, 2011.
He lost his re-election bid in 2015 to Muhammadu Buhari. Since then, he hasn't publicly announced intentions to contest in 2027.
Some Nigerians have nonetheless called for his political comeback. Constitutional lawyers argue, however, that the constitution bars anyone from being sworn in as president three times.
