The All Progressives Congress in Lagos State has told the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to lure former President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race.
There are speculations that Jonathan may throw his hat into the ring ahead of the next election.
Former Minister, Jerry Gana’s recent declaration that Jonathan would contest for the presidency in 2027, has fuelled the growing speculations in past days.
Lagos APC spokesman, Seye Oladejo, in a statement on Tuesday, asked the PDP to allow Jonathan to enjoy his retirement from public office rather than luring him into the race.
According to Oladejo, rather than luring Jonathan into ‘a final dance whose result is all too predictable’, the cheerleaders should have allowed the former Nigerian leader to relax.
He said ‘Indeed, if he chooses to run, President Jonathan will need more than an overdose of good luck to stand a chance. The landmines before him are numerous – legal, past records, and fundamental questions of capacity.’
Oladejo said that elections remained contests of ideas, competence and delivery – not nostalgia or recycled rhetoric.
He said,’ Prof. Gana’s certainty that a particular individual will be the PDP candidate or that Nigerians are clamouring for a return to the past is premature and political theatre.
‘We acknowledge and appreciate Prof. Gana’s sense of humour, which may be entertaining but is out of place in serious political discourse.
‘It may also be interesting to interrogate his continued relevance, having been around the corridors of power forever without leaving behind any remarkable legacy of transformation or notable accomplishments.’
According to him, Gana arrogating to himself the sole power to determine the presidential candidate of a whole political party has exposed the PDP’s disdain for internal democracy.
He said PDP is unlike the APC, which remained firmly committed to internal democracy and a transparent nomination process.
‘The PDP and other opposition parties appear to be working towards already pre-determined ends as far as their presidential candidates are concerned,’ he said.
Oladejo advised Gana not to unnecessarily heat up the polity by embarking on campaigns before the official ban on electioneering is lifted by the electoral body.
He said,’ Lagos APC stands firmly behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda to fix the economy and build infrastructure that creates jobs and improves lives.
‘We will continue to defend policies that prioritise the future over the past.
‘The APC in Lagos calls on all political actors – including the PDP and its chieftains – to desist from divisive nostalgia and instead present clear, implementable programmes for the challenges Nigerians actually face.
‘If the PDP truly believes Mr Jonathan is the solution, they should lay out specific, detailed policy proposals and submit them for public scrutiny rather than making pronouncements that sound like campaign hype.’
He urged voters to judge parties by records and plans.
‘We will continue to work across Lagos and Nigeria to promote pragmatic governance, development and inclusion – and to hold all parties to account for promises made to Nigerians,’ Oladejo stated.