Oshiomhole warns Jonathan not to contest 2027 election, saying APC would defeat him and urging the ex-president to protect his statesman legacy and honour.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has issued a strong political caution to former President Goodluck Jonathan, advising him against any attempt to rejoin the presidential race in 2027.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Oshiomhole warns Jonathan that contesting against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would only end in defeat and could seriously damage his hard-earned national and international reputation.
According to the senator representing Edo North, the political landscape has drastically changed since Jonathan’s exit from power in 2015.
Oshiomhole argued that Jonathan’s once-solid base in the South-South region has weakened, and the region no longer serves as a reliable stronghold for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“We will defeat him flatly if he comes out,” Oshiomhole said.
“The South-South is no longer PDP, so where is he going to start from?”
Oshiomhole explained that the APC has successfully consolidated its grip across several regions of Nigeria, including areas that previously backed Jonathan. He said the days when regional loyalty guaranteed national power are long gone.
The political realities, he added, now favour the APC under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, and any attempt by Jonathan to re-enter the scene would be futile.
Oshiomhole warns Jonathan that those urging him to contest are not his friends but political opportunists seeking personal relevance.
“How can Jonathan be a threat?” he asked rhetorically.
“We defeated him when the PDP was at its strongest. If a man had the PDP at its peak and was defeated, only his enemies will push him to run again.”
The former Edo State governor advised Jonathan to protect his image as a respected African statesman rather than returning to active politics.
He said Jonathan has already made history as a leader who peacefully handed over power, earning him global admiration that no political victory could surpass.
“If I were to advise him,” Oshiomhole continued, “I would say, Sir, maintain your statesman status. You have governed for eight years; you don’t have to govern for nine. You’ve shown that life after power can still be relevant and peaceful.”
Oshiomhole praised Jonathan’s remarkable gesture in 2015 when he conceded defeat even before the official announcement of election results, describing it as one of the most honorable acts in Nigeria’s democratic history.
He said Jonathan’s famous declaration that ‘my ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian’ should remain the defining statement of his legacy.
Oshiomhole warns Jonathan that re-entering politics could erode the credibility he has built since leaving office.
He emphasized that Jonathan’s image as a peace ambassador and advocate for democracy across Africa is far more valuable than another tenure in power.
“Jonathan has become a model of leadership by humility,” Oshiomhole said.
“He is respected globally not for winning elections but for conceding one. He should not allow short-term political ambitions to erase long-term respect.”
According to Oshiomhole, the APC remains confident that President Tinubu would easily outperform Jonathan at the polls if such a contest ever occurred.
He said Tinubu’s expanding political influence, strategic reforms, and national alliances make him a formidable candidate for 2027.
Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor and the 2023 PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State, echoed similar views.
Jandor urged Jonathan to ignore calls from those urging him to challenge Tinubu, saying such advice is deceptive and politically unwise.
He argued that Jonathan should continue to serve as a mentor to younger politicians rather than returning to the political battlefield.
“Those asking him to contest again are not sincere,” Jandor said.
“They want to use his name for their gain, but Nigerians have already moved on from that era.”
Jandor commended the former president for the dignity he has maintained since leaving office, noting that history has already judged him favorably.
“Jonathan’s record as the first Nigerian leader to peacefully transfer power to an opposition party is his greatest achievement. That is his legacy, and it must be preserved,” he added.
Political analysts agree that Jonathan’s influence in national politics has waned.
They point to the rise of new political movements, shifting alliances, and the dominance of the APC as signs that a comeback bid would be unrealistic.
Since 2015, many of Jonathan’s former allies have either defected to the APC or retired from politics, leaving him with little organizational support to mount a credible campaign.
Oshiomhole warns Jonathan that the upcoming 2027 election will not resemble the contests of the past.
The APC, he said, has built a strong nationwide structure, and Tinubu’s political base extends beyond regional borders.
“The game has changed,” Oshiomhole emphasized.
“Those who think the old system can bring them back to power are living in denial.”
He further noted that Jonathan has already reached a rare status that few African leaders achieve — global respect after leaving office.
“He is now invited to speak at international forums, to mediate in conflicts, and to promote democracy,” Oshiomhole said.
“Why trade all that for another uncertain election?”
In closing, Oshiomhole warns Jonathan to remain a symbol of peace, humility, and leadership rather than a political contender. He said Nigeria needs elder statesmen who can guide, not politicians who seek to reclaim power.
“Jonathan has achieved what many politicians dream of — honour without power,” Oshiomhole concluded.
“He should remain that beacon of leadership whose words inspired peace and unity. History will remember him better as a statesman than as a comeback candidate.”
With these words, the senator reinforced a message echoed by both supporters and critics alike: that Jonathan’s strength lies not in returning to politics but in the moral legacy he already holds.
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