“How Can Jonathan Be a Threat? We Defeated Him Before, We’ll Defeat Him Again” — Oshiomhole

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, has asserted that former President Goodluck Jonathan stands little chance if he contests the 2027 presidential election. Speaking on Channels Television’s *Sunday Politics*, Oshiomhole suggested that Jonathan’s influence in the South-South region has declined since 2015, making it difficult for him to mount a serious challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“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. The former Edo State governor added that only those who do not wish Jonathan well would encourage him to return to active politics, warning that a comeback could tarnish his legacy.

Oshiomhole recalled Jonathan’s defeat in 2015 when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was at its peak, saying, “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 urged Jonathan to preserve his status as a respected statesman rather than seek office again after eight years in power, noting that he has already demonstrated that one can remain relevant and influential outside government.

The senator also commended Jonathan’s historic concession in 2015, describing it as an act that enhanced his stature both nationally and internationally. He stressed that Jonathan’s statement about his blood not being worth the blood of any Nigerian should remain his enduring legacy.

Echoing similar sentiments, PDP 2023 governorship candidate Abdul-Azeez Adediran, also known as Jandor, advised Jonathan against running for the presidency in 2027, warning that he would be taking a political risk and could be overshadowed by President Bola Tinubu at the polls.