A youth-led civil society organisation under the aegis of the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan held a rally on Wednesday at the Abuja office of former President Goodluck Jonathan, demanding that he contest the 2027 presidential election.

The youths brandished placards and banners with inscriptions calling on Mr Jonathan to contest for a second term.

The crowd held the rally from Taraba Close near Tanganyika Street, through the Farmers Market, to Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida Way in Abuja.

Some of the placards read, “GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!” “GEJ, Nigerian youths break the medicine wey dem do you.” “GEJ, if you no run, we quench.”

The group, led by Tom Ohikere, a former Commissioner for Information in Kogi State, read its prepared speech to journalists present at the rally.

In his address, Mr Ohikere said, “Everywhere that we have visited in the course of our nationwide consultation over a period of six months, the clamour for his return to power to rescue our country has been loud and unmistakable.”

He noted that the ex-president remains “the only unifying force that can reverse the impending catastrophe looming over Nigeria.”

However, Mr Jonathan did not show up to receive the crowd, which described itself as ‘visitors’.

Mr Ohikere said the group would return to visit Mr Jonathan as many times as necessary until they hear from him.

There has been no official statement from Mr Jonathan on the development as of press time.