By ADEYEMI ADELEYE

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has advised the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to allow former President Goodluck Jonathan to enjoy his retirement from public office in peace, rather than luring him into 2027 race.

The party’s spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo, gave the advice in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, following declaration by Prof. Jerry Gana that Jonathan would contest for the presidency in 2027.

According to Oladejo, rather than luring Jonathan into “a final dance whose result is all too predictable”, the cheerleaders should allowed the former Nigerian leader to relax.

“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,” he said.

Speaking on Gana’s public remark at the PDP Niger State Congress in Minna, Oladejo said that election 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.”

He said that 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 described the declaration as total disregard for due process.

According to him, since 2023, Nigerians have been witnessing major policy shifts and bold reforms aimed at revitalising the economy, attracting investment, and expanding social interventions.

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,” he stated. (NAN)