By: Manoah kikekon
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| Festus Keyamo |
Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that selecting either former President Goodluck Jonathan or Labour Party's Peter Obi as their 2027 flagbearer would be a catastrophic strategic error.
Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, framed the PDP's position as "non-enviable," tracing its problems to the pivotal decision not to zone its 2023 presidential ticket to the Southern part of the country a move he claims eroded its support base in the South-South and South-East.
The minister highlighted a significant legal hurdle for a potential Jonathan candidacy, pointing to Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). This clause potentially bars anyone who has been sworn in twice as President from running again.
“If he is fielded, the Party runs the RISK of NOT HAVING A CANDIDATE AT ALL,” Keyamo asserted. He emphasized that this is an untested legal question that would inevitably be decided by the Supreme Court, not public opinion on social media. He warned the PDP would have no one to blame but itself if it ignored this risk and was later disqualified.
Keyamo also dismissed the potential for a candidate from the South-West, arguing that no other region would support a fresh Yoruba candidate eligible for two terms, who would also struggle against the APC's strong machinery in that zone.
On Peter Obi, Keyamo was equally skeptical. He argued that the former Anambra governor rejoining the PDP would alienate his core base of supporters, the 'Obidients'. “The principled ones amongst them will see him as going back to his vomit,” he stated, questioning the authenticity of such a move and its ability to generate sustained, passionate support.
The minister concluded that the PDP's fundamental error was its failure to zone its 2023 ticket to the South. He stated that while young voters may dismiss zoning, it remains the "REALITY of our politics." Barring an "EXTRAORDINARY" event, Keyamo predicted the opposition party may not be a serious contender until the 2031 election.