Former Edo State governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will easily defeat former President Goodluck Jonathan if he decides to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Oshiomhole said the political atmosphere in the South-South region has changed since 2015, adding that the area is no longer a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“We will defeat him flatly if he comes out because now, the South-South is no longer PDP, so where is he going to start from?” Oshiomhole said.
He argued that those calling on Jonathan to return to politics were not doing him any favors, warning that such a move could damage his hard-earned reputation.
“How can Jonathan be a threat? We defeated him before, when PDP was truly PDP. If a man had a PDP at its best, at its peak, and he was defeated, I think only his enemy will push him to go into election,” he added.
Oshiomhole advised the former president to remain as a respected elder statesman rather than seek a comeback.
“If I were able to advise him, I will say, Sir, maintain this status. You governed for eight years; you don’t have to govern for nine years. He has managed to demonstrate that out of power, you can be relevant and be at peace,” the lawmaker said.
The Former Edo Governor also praised Jonathan’s historic concession after the 2015 election, noting that it earned him international respect and should remain his enduring legacy.
However, Oshiomhole’s comments come amid renewed calls by some political groups urging the former president to return to the race in 2027.
Similarly, Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor), the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State during the 2023 elections, advised Jonathan not to yield to pressure to contest, warning that those pushing the idea were deceiving him.
Oshiomhole further stated that Jonathan’s popular quote, “My ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian,” should remain the defining mark of his legacy.