Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has warned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could run into major trouble in 2027 if it fields former President Goodluck Jonathan or ex-Anambra governor Peter Obi as its presidential candidate.
In a lengthy post on his X account on Sunday, Keyamo said the opposition party has been struggling since it refused to zone its 2023 ticket to the South, a move he claimed cost it vital support in the South-South and South-East.
He particularly pointed out that nominating Jonathan carries a constitutional danger tied to section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). According to him, the clause may stop anyone sworn in twice as president from contesting again.
“If he is fielded, the Party runs the RISK of NOT HAVING A CANDIDATE AT ALL,” Keyamo wrote. “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. All the arguments… will not be decided on social media, but at the Supreme Court.”
He warned that PDP would only have itself to blame if it ignored this legal trap and later found itself without a candidate after nominations had closed.
The minister also dismissed talk of a South-West presidential hopeful for PDP, insisting such a candidate would face both regional rejection and stiff competition from APC’s strong base in the South-West.
On Peter Obi, Keyamo argued that bringing the former Labour Party candidate into PDP would backfire. He suggested that Obi’s one-term pledge in the past, along with doubts about his political consistency, could weaken his appeal.
“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,” he wrote.
Concluding his assessment, Keyamo blamed PDP’s woes on what he called its “original sin” of refusing to zone its 2023 presidential ticket to the South.
“The young social media warriors may lampoon anyone talking about these zoning sentiments, but that is the REALITY of our politics. Unless something EXTRAORDINARY happens, the Party may have to wait till 2031,” he added.
