Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would easily defeat former President Goodluck Jonathan if he decides to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Oshiomhole said the political landscape of the South-South region, once a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has shifted significantly in favour of the 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 queried.

The former APC National Chairman argued that Jonathan’s support base has dwindled since his 2015 loss, stressing that those urging him to return to politics were not acting in his best interest.

“How can Jonathan be a threat? We defeated him before when the PDP was truly PDP. If a man had the PDP at its best and was still defeated, I think only his enemy will push him to go into another election,” Oshiomhole stated.

He advised the former president to preserve his reputation as a respected statesman rather than re-entering partisan politics after already serving eight years in office.

“If I were to advise him, I would say, Sir, maintain your current status. You governed for eight years; you don’t have to govern for nine years. He has managed to demonstrate that even out of power, you can remain relevant and at peace,” Oshiomhole added.

Oshiomhole, however, commended Jonathan for his peaceful conduct after the 2015 election and for conceding defeat — a decision he said elevated the former president’s global standing.

“That quote of his, that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian, should remain his lasting legacy,” he said.

Similarly, the 2023 governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, cautioned Jonathan against yielding to pressure to return to the presidential race.

Jandor said those urging the former president to run against President Bola Tinubu in 2027 were only misleading him, urging Jonathan to remain in retirement and continue playing the role of an elder statesman.