Potential Pitfalls for PDP in 2027: Keyamo Warns Against Banking on Jonathan or Obi
Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has issued a stern warning regarding the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) prospects in the 2027 presidential election. He cautions that the party risks another significant defeat if it relies on former President Goodluck Jonathan or ex-Anambra State governor Peter Obi as its standard-bearers.
Reflecting on PDP’s 2023 Strategic Errors
In a comprehensive statement posted on his X account, Keyamo criticized the PDP’s failure to strategically pdp-to-zone-2027-presidency-to-south/” title=”Wike urges … to zone 2027 presidency to …”>zone its 2023 presidential ticket to the southern region. This miscalculation, he argues, led to the party losing its long-standing dominance in the South-South and South-East zones-areas that have been its strongholds since 1999.
“The PDP’s reluctance to commit to a southern candidate in 2023 cost it dearly, resulting in the loss of critical support from its most loyal regions,” Keyamo emphasized.
Constitutional Barriers Surrounding Jonathan’s Candidacy
Although the PDP has now pledged to zone its 2027 ticket to the South, Keyamo highlights a significant legal obstacle if the party chooses Jonathan as its candidate. According to Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), anyone who has been sworn in as president twice is constitutionally barred from contesting again.
This amendment was introduced following the legal challenges to Jonathan’s eligibility in 2015. Keyamo warns that if Jonathan is nominated and later disqualified by the Supreme Court after the nomination deadline, the PDP could find itself without a valid candidate, a scenario that would be entirely avoidable.
“The judiciary’s decision on this matter will be final. Should the PDP ignore this constitutional risk, it cannot later blame the courts for its predicament,” he stated.
Challenges of a South-Western Candidate for PDP
Keyamo also dismissed the possibility of the PDP fielding a candidate from the South-West, arguing that such a move would alienate other regions and weaken the party’s overall chances. He pointed out that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has a well-established political machinery in the South-West, which would pose a formidable challenge to any PDP contender from that zone.
“A fresh Yoruba candidate from the PDP would struggle to gain traction beyond the South-West, especially against the APC’s entrenched structures,” Keyamo noted.
Peter Obi’s Return: A Double-Edged Sword
Regarding Peter Obi, who ran under the Labour Party in 2023, Keyamo expressed skepticism about the impact of his potential return to the PDP. He argued that Obi’s insistence on serving only one term aligns with the same constitutional limitations that could hinder Jonathan.
Moreover, Keyamo suggested that Obi’s core supporters-the ‘Obidients’-might view his return to the PDP as a betrayal of his earlier criticisms of the party’s alleged “structure of criminality,” potentially dampening their enthusiasm.
Zoning: An Unavoidable Factor in Nigerian Politics
Keyamo concluded by underscoring that the PDP’s current challenges stem from strategic missteps made before the 2023 elections. He reiterated that zoning remains a fundamental and enduring aspect of Nigeria’s political landscape, despite criticism from younger, social media-savvy voters.
“Unless an extraordinary political development occurs, the PDP may have to wait until 2031 to regain its footing,” he warned.
Source: Latest Nigeria News | Ripples Nigeria
0 Comments