Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State and current lawmaker representing Edo North, has cautioned former President Goodluck Jonathan against yielding to pressure to contest the 2027 presidential election, saying such a move could damage his political legacy and hard-earned public goodwill.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Oshiomhole said Jonathan has nothing to gain by returning to the political battlefield after leaving office with dignity and national respect.
“I have a lot of respect for him,” Oshiomhole said. “We defeated him when the PDP was at its peak. If he couldn’t win then, I don’t see how he can win now. Only those who don’t wish him well will encourage him to contest again.”
The senator described Jonathan as one of the few Nigerian leaders who have managed to remain relevant and respected after leaving power. According to him, the former president should focus on preserving that status rather than chasing another term that could end in political embarrassment.
“He has shown that you don’t need to be in power to make an impact. Out of office, he has become a respected voice across Africa,” Oshiomhole noted. “If I were in his shoes, I would protect that image and continue to enjoy the peace that comes with it.”
Oshiomhole warned that the political landscape has changed drastically since Jonathan left office in 2015, adding that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), under which Jonathan contested, has lost much of its influence, particularly in the South.
“If he joins the race now, he’ll be running on a weak platform. The South is no longer PDP stronghold, so where will he even begin?” he asked.
Jonathan, who lost the 2015 presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been the subject of renewed political speculation in recent months. Several of his allies have hinted that he is under pressure to join the 2027 race, though he has not publicly confirmed any such intention.
Oshiomhole’s comments come amid growing debate over potential contenders for the next presidential election, with some political analysts suggesting that Jonathan’s return could reshape the political scene. But for Oshiomhole, doing so would only erase the respect the former leader has earned since leaving Aso Rock.
“Jonathan has already built his legacy,” he said. “He should protect it, not gamble it away in another contest.”