A stakeholder of the African Democratic Congress ADC, in Rivers State, has appealed to the former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to eschew every plan to join the 2027 presidential race.
Hon. Felix Ekpendu, who recently emerged chairman of ADC in Omuma Local Government Area of the state, made this appeal to the ex-president in an interview with TPCN correspondent on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
Ekpendu charged Jonathan not to fall for the pressure from Nigerians, who have persistently called for him to throw his hat in the ring.
The ADC part leader urged the ex-president to play a fatherly role to candidates contesting the forthcoming 2027 election.
He also urged Jonathan to have pity on suffering Nigerians by supporting the candidates of the coalition against the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, candidate.
His word: “the former president was a great man, a hero as regarded by some notable Nigerians following his decision to concede defeat even as a sitting president.
“Nigerians live him and he is highly respected in and outside Nigeria for that singular act. He is an ambassador. Coming now to contest election will spoil his name. If I am sitting face to face with him, I will beg him not to fail for this pressure you are talking about.”
Ekpendu said, “according to you, a rally was held in Jigawa, and crowd of people were begging him to contest next year’s election, I laughed when you said that because those same people did everything to fight against him.
“I have forgotten the state but there was a state he visited during campaign, they used broom and water to wash their road after his visit, just to let him know that they don’t want him, now, they have seen that cucumber is better than concrete, they are now calling him back.”
When asked what his advise to the former president was ahead of the election, the ADC Omuma leader said, “my advise is that he should not contest, it’s not necessary. He should simply support the coalition candidates when they emerge.
“I love Jonathan, people have shown interest over two years ago and have been working seriously for the election, him coming now, will divide the house and if such happens, the ruling party will ofcourse win.
“I don’t believe in when food is done politics. He is qualified to contest but if he must contest, not now, definitely not know.
“Again, I will like to beg him to maintain his good name. Since he left office, Nigeria has seen and felt his usefulness, Nigerians now know better, suffering increased, hunger, difficulty, it’s terrible, I am begging him not to pay attention to them, he should just sit, observe and support coalition candidates for a better Nigerian.”
