Former Edo State governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has cautioned former President Goodluck Jonathan against yielding to pressures to contest the 2027 presidential election, warning that such a move could tarnish his hard-earned political legacy.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on October 5, 2025, Oshiomhole said Jonathan stands no chance of defeating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing those urging him to run as “enemies” out to ruin his reputation.
“I have a lot of respect for him,” Oshiomhole said. “We defeated him before when PDP was truly PDP. If a man had the PDP at its best and still lost, I think only his enemies will push him to contest again. He has proven that one can remain relevant and respected outside power.”
The former APC national chairman noted that the current political realities make it nearly impossible for Jonathan to win, pointing out that “the South is no longer PDP” and asking rhetorically, “Where will he even start from?”
Oshiomhole further advised Jonathan to focus on preserving his statesman status rather than attempting a political comeback that could end in another humiliating defeat.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has held meetings with the former president, urging him to join the party ahead of the 2027 race. Several PDP stakeholders are also said to be making similar moves to convince him to return to the contest.
Political observers, however, believe that a Jonathan comeback remains uncertain, as many within and outside the PDP argue that he should continue playing his current role as an elder statesman.
