The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has warned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) risks “serious setbacks” in its 2027 presidential strategy if it nominates either former President Goodluck Jonathan or former Anambra governor Peter Obi.
In a lengthy post on his X account, Keyamo argued that the PDP remains in a “non-enviable position” because it failed to zone its 2023 ticket to the South, which cost it support in its traditional strongholds.
Keyamo highlighted what he called a “constitutional danger” tied to section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which may bar anyone sworn in twice as president from contesting again.
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He warned that if Jonathan is chosen, the PDP runs the “RISK of NOT HAVING A CANDIDATE AT ALL” because the matter would likely be decided by the Supreme Court.
Keyamo stated, “The constitutional amendment was made AFTER the court judgment which cleared him (Jonathan) to run in 2015, so nothing is decided yet on that new amendment, hence I use the word ‘RISK’ advisedly. All the arguments as to whether the section can be interpreted to affect him will not be decided on Social Media, but at the Supreme Court.”
He added that if the party loses its candidacy after nominations close, nobody should scream that the “judiciary is corrupt.”
The minister suggested that bringing the former Labour Party candidate into the PDP would not solve the party’s problems.
He noted that Obi’s past one-term pledge could dilute support among his core followers, writing, “The principled ones amongst the ‘obidients’ will see him as going back to his vomit … and may not be too vociferous in their support anymore.”
Keyamo also dismissed the likelihood of a successful presidential candidate from the South-West, stating, “If the PDP decides to field its most attractive S/West candidate, no other region of the country will vote for a fresh Yoruba candidate who would be eligible for a fresh two terms in office.”
Concluding his assessment, Keyamo blamed the PDP’s predicament on its “original sin” of not zoning the 2023 ticket.
He said that unless “something EXTRAORDINARY happens, the Party may have to wait till 2031.”
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