The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has warned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) risks disqualification and further electoral defeat in 2027 if it fields either former President Goodluck Jonathan or ex-Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, as its presidential candidate.
In a post on his official 𝕏 handle on Sunday, Keyamo said the PDP was grappling with the consequences of its failure to zone its 2023 ticket to the South, which, he argued, cost the party its traditional strongholds in the South-South and South-East.
He said, “In 2023, PDP lacked the balls to deliberately zone its presidential ticket to the South, so it woefully lost its decades-long stranglehold on the S/South and S/East, the two of its most loyal regions since 1999.”
Keyamo cautioned that Jonathan’s candidacy would expose the PDP to disqualification based on Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (Fourth Amendment), which bars anyone sworn in twice as president from seeking another term.
“One of its attractive targets is ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, because of his purported eligibility to run for only one term. But, if he is fielded, the party runs the risk of NOT HAVING A CANDIDATE AT ALL by virtue of Section 137(3),” he stated.
“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. If he is barred AFTER nominations close and the PDP is declared as having no candidate, nobody should scream ‘judiciary is corrupt’ because such a large party saw the danger ahead and deliberately ignored it,” he warned.
The minister also dismissed the chances of the PDP producing a viable flagbearer from the South-West, saying such a candidate would find it challenging to secure national support.
“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 two fresh terms. And that candidate will battle with the well-oiled APC structures in the S/West,” he said.
On speculations that Obi might return to the PDP, Keyamo argued that such a move would dent the former Anambra governor’s credibility and fracture his support base.
“If the PDP woos back Peter Obi, scenario three above will still apply to him, hence all his shout of serving one-term of recent. In addition, the principled ones amongst the ‘Obidients’ will see him as going back to his vomit of ‘structure of criminality’ and may not be too vociferous in their support anymore,” he stated.
Keyamo emphasised that zoning remained central to Nigeria’s political culture, regardless of how unpopular it seemed among younger voters.
“The young social media warriors may lampoon anyone talking about these zoning sentiments, but that is the REALITY of our politics and it is not about to end. Except something extraordinary happens, the party may have to wait till 2031,” he declared.
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