African leaders will choose a new chairman for the 54-member pan-African body in a secret ballot at the African Union summit opening on Sunday.
The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are campaigning for Jonathan to run for the position, which has been occupied by the President of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, since 2008.
"Quite a number of African leaders have been approaching him and encouraging him to be the candidate for the next chairman of the African Union," said the source, who spoke of the condition of anonymity.
"If it is the consensus of (ECOWAS) that he should run for the chairmanship of the African Union, I doubt if he will be able to tell his colleagues that he will not listen to them," he added.
Diplomatic sources had earlier said Gambian President Yahya Jammeh or Benin's leader Boni Yayi were likely rivals for the post, which changes every four years and is offered to different regions in Africa on a rotational basis.
However, the source confirmed that Gambia was no longer vying for the spot, which is largely ceremonial, adding that Benin may not run either, leaving Nigeria as the sole candidate for chairman of the union.
ECOWAS leaders are meeting on the margins of the AU summit in Addis Ababa on Saturday to decide whether they will formally recommend Jonathan for the spot.
The next chairman will come from the west African region to replace Obiang, whose election was condemned by rights group over his poor rights record at home.
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