By Amarachi Jim-Nwoko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Fresh speculation over former President Goodluck Jonathan’s possible return to the presidential race intensified on Saturday after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presented his Certificate of Return at its National Convention in Abuja.
The symbolic presentation, which immediately stirred excitement among party delegates and political observers, has reignited debate over Jonathan’s potential role in the party’s 2027 electoral strategy.
The certificate was received on Jonathan’s behalf by former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, during the convention held in Area 10, Garki, Abuja.
It was handed over by the PDP Interim National Working Committee led by Kabiru Turaki, SAN, in the presence of party leaders, former ministers, state officials, delegates, and supporters.
The presentation quickly became one of the defining moments of the convention, drawing strong reactions from attendees and pushing Jonathan back to the centre of national political discussions.
Speaking after receiving the certificate, Gana addressed journalists and supporters, further fueling conversations about the PDP’s next political direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development comes as the opposition party continues internal consultations over its leadership structure and plans to reposition itself for a stronger challenge in the next presidential contest.
Many within the party believe the decisions taken in the coming months will shape its competitiveness and determine its chances of reclaiming power in 2027.
Political analysts say the latest move has heightened public attention on the PDP convention, with expectations that more signals regarding the party’s presidential strategy may emerge as proceedings continue.
By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday paid a condolence visit to Prof. John Kennedy Opara, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CSS Farms and former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, following the death of his mother, Chief Mrs. Christiana O. Opara (née Ugochinyere).
Jonathan, who visited the bereaved family in Abuja alongside other sympathisers, described the late matriarch as a deeply spiritual and God-fearing woman whose life was defined by faith, grace, and unwavering devotion to her family and community.
In a statement issued after the visit on his Facebook page, the former president said Mama Opara left behind a legacy of kindness, compassion, and service that would continue to inspire all who encountered her during her lifetime.
He noted that her contributions to the growth and unity of her family, as well as her commitment to humanity, earned her the admiration and respect of many people.
Jonathan further prayed for the peaceful repose of her soul and asked God to grant strength and comfort to Prof. Opara, the entire Opara family, and all those grieving the loss.
The late Chief Mrs. Christiana O. Opara was widely regarded by relatives and associates as a woman of strong Christian values who devoted much of her life to nurturing her family and supporting her community through acts of kindness and encouragement.
Precise Post recalls that her passing has continued to attract condolences from prominent personalities, associates, and well-wishers across the country, many of whom have described her as a virtuous mother and an embodiment of humility and faith.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is safe and has left Guinea-Bissau following the military coup that toppled the country’s government, the Federal Government confirmed on Thursday.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, made this known in an interview with journalists in Abuja.
“Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau. He left with a special flight with members of his delegation, including Mohamed Chambas,” he said.
Jonathan, who led the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, had been in the country monitoring last Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections before the military announced it had seized power.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, Filipe Nyusi, former president of Mozambique and Head of the African Union Election Observation Mission; Issifu Kamara, Head of the Economic Community of West African States Election Observation Mission; and Jonathan condemned the coup, describing it as a direct attempt to disrupt Guinea-Bissau’s democratic process.
They appealed for calm among residents and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Guinea-Bissau “during this sensitive period,” stressing “the importance of preserving peace, stability, and the well-being of the Bissau-Guinean people.”
Also, the Federal Government condemned the coup in strong terms, warning that it represents a serious threat to democracy and regional stability.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it learned of the development “with profound dismay and deep concern,” faulting the coup for leading to “an unconstitutional change of government in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.”
It described the action as a violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
Guinea-Bissau was thrown into turmoil on Wednesday after military officers declared “total control” of the country, closed its borders, and suspended electoral activities. Heavy gunfire was heard near the presidential palace, and soldiers blocked major access routes.
General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, announced that a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces was taking over the leadership of the country until further notice.”
In a phone call with France24, incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo said, “I have been deposed.”
He was reportedly inside a building behind military headquarters “with the chief of staff and the minister of the interior,” according to AFP.
Both Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had already claimed victory in Sunday’s polls, with provisional results expected on Thursday.
The military claimed it uncovered a plot involving “national drug lords” and the importation of weapons “to alter the constitutional order.”
Later on Thursday, military authorities announced that the country’s borders had been reopened. “All borders are now open,” General Lansana Mansali, Inspector General of the Armed Forces, told AFP.
More than 6,700 security personnel, including members of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Force, had been deployed for the elections amid widespread political tension. Guinea-Bissau, one of the world’s poorest countries, has faced repeated coups, with four successful takeovers and several attempts since independence.
