Only ex-President’s enemies pushing him to run in 2027, says Oshiomhole
Former Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has dismissed a report alleging that he had been appointed to lead the South-West consultation team to woo former President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2027 presidential election.
The report claimed that the recommendation came from former Osun State governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.
In a statement, yesterday, through his Spokesperson, Eniola Akinsola, Mimiko described the publication as “falsehood” and “a concocted rumour dressed in news.”
“The falsehood in the report is obvious from the get-go. It is just the work of a journalist flying with concocted rumour dressed as news.
“Mimiko has neither been reached nor appointed for a campaign that is still the subject — and may well end as a subject — of fanciful speculation. I am sure he is also not job-hunting,” the statement stated.
The statement further noted that as the 2027 elections draw closer, politically motivated stories of this nature are likely to emerge, especially about figures like Mimiko who have “chosen to remain low for now.”
It would be recalled that former Minister of Information and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Prof. Jerry Gana, had last week stirred controversy after declaring that Jonathan would contest the 2027 election, saying that Nigerians are yearning for his return.
“I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as the PDP’s candidate, and we should be prepared to vote for him to return as president again,” he said.
This was as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja was yesterday asked to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in the country for the purpose of contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The court was equally urged to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting from any political party Jonathan’s name or publishing the same as a duly nominated candidate for the presidential contest.
Also, former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has advised Jonathan against returning to the presidential race in 2027, saying that such a move could damage his legacy.
Oshiomhole, while speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics,’ said only those who do not mean well for Jonathan would urge him to re-enter the political arena.
He said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would easily defeat Jonathan if he decides to contest.
