2027: 38-year-old aspirant Onyema consults Obasanjo, Jonathan ahead of declaration
As the countdown to the 2027 general elections intensifies, 38-year-old political scientist Francis Onyema has formally informed former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan of his intention to run for
As the countdown to the 2027 general elections intensifies, 38-year-old political scientist Francis Onyema has formally informed former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan of his intention to run for the nation’s highest office.
The Delta State-born aspirant plans to contest under the banner of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).
Onyema has also reached out to other prominent figures, including the Oba of Benin, the Emir of Kano, and human rights lawyer Femi Falana, as part of a high-level consultative phase ahead of his campaign.
According to a statement by the Onyema Campaign Organisation (OCO) on Thursday, March 25, 2026, has been set for the official public declaration of his presidential ambition in Abuja.
OCO described Onyema as an advocate for rational policy-making, emphasizing that his vision represents a decisive shift from Nigeria’s entrenched political elite. “The search for credible leadership in Nigeria must extend beyond the traditional political class to what I call the Reformist Class,” Onyema wrote in his correspondence to national leaders.
At the official declaration, Onyema is expected to present a long-form essay titled “From the Political Class to the Reformist (Solution) Class”, outlining his comprehensive leadership reform framework. He also challenged the electorate to rethink their criteria for selecting leaders if the country is to achieve meaningful progress.
"Elections should fundamentally be contests of ideas," Onyema insisted. "Leaders must be elected on the strength of their convincing plans to address the needs of Nigerians rather than on mere rhetoric.
"Nigeria’s democratic progress will depend largely on the willingness of citizens to evaluate candidates not by political influence or financial strength, but by the clarity, credibility, and practicality of their ideas for national development."
The declaration event is expected to attract members of the media, civil society actors, youth leaders, and political observers interested in the evolving debate on leadership reform and issue-based democratic competition in Nigeria.
