The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has dismissed speculations that former President Goodluck Jonathan could return in 2027 to challenge President Bola Tinubu.
The party’s spokesman, Seye Oladejo, in a statement on Friday, said Jonathan lacked the political weight to unseat Tinubu if he decided to contest the next presidential election.
“While we acknowledge the former president’s role in the peaceful democratic transition of 2015 an act that rightly earned him praise at home and abroad we must state, in clear terms, that Nigeria has since moved beyond the politics of sentiment, nostalgia, and symbolism.
“The challenges of today and the future require bold, capable, and forward-thinking leadership not a return to the comfort of a past that was far from perfect.
“Let it be clear: good luck alone is not a governance strategy,” he said.
Oladejo argued that Jonathan’s administration left behind corruption, insecurity, and economic stagnation, insisting that a return to that era would not solve the nation’s problems.
“While some may look back on those years with rose-tinted glasses, we must remind ourselves that nostalgia is not a policy platform.
“Emotion cannot drive economic reform, and sentimentality will not fix power generation, insecurity, youth unemployment, or education sector decay,” the APC chieftain said.
He further noted that Jonathan’s eligibility would raise constitutional and political debates, which he described as distractions the country could not afford at this time.
“Moreover, the former president’s political relevance has been complicated by his recent engagements across party lines.
“His flirtation with the APC and absence from PDP’s strategic rebuilding efforts raise questions about his loyalty, clarity of vision, and political intentions,” he said.
Oladejo added that the APC would continue to consolidate on reforms and present credible candidates that reflect the aspirations of Nigeria’s youthful population.
“We believe the future of Nigeria does not lie in recycled leadership but in visionary governance rooted in integrity, innovation, and resilience.
“Former President Jonathan remains a respected elder statesman. His legacy as a peaceful democrat is assured. But legacies are not manifestoes, and nostalgia is not governance.
“We urge Nigerians to reject emotional shortcuts and stay focused on the need for capable, accountable and transformative leadership.
“As 2027 approaches, let us not reach backwards in desperation, but move forward with courage and clarity,” Oladejo said.