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 opts for former President Goodluck Jonathan or ex-Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, as its standard-bearer.
But PDP in a swift reaction, rejected Keyamo’s advice, saying he (minister) could not decide its candidate.
However, in a long post on his X account yesterday, Keyamo said the opposition party remained in a “non-enviable position” after failing to zone its 2023 ticket to the South, a decision, he said, cost the PDP support in its traditional strongholds in the South-South and South-East.
Keyamo argued that nominating Jonathan carried a constitutional danger tied to section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which he suggested could bar anyone sworn in twice as president from contesting again.
He added that the party would bear responsibility if it ignored the legal risk and lost its candidacy after nominations closed.
He also dismissed the likelihood of a successful South-West flagbearer for the PDP, saying “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.
On Peter Obi, the minister said bringing the former Labour Party candidate into the PDP fold would not solve the party’s problems.
Concluding his assessment, the minister blamed the PDP’s current predicament on what he called its “original sin” of not zoning the 2023 ticket to the South.
