The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against fielding former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate in 2027, warning that the move could jeopardize the party’s chances.

In a post on his X handle on Sunday, Keyamo said the PDP remains in a non-enviable position after refusing to zone its 2023 ticket to the South, arguing that the decision cost the party support in the South-South and South-East.

According to him, presenting Jonathan would pose a constitutional threat under section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which could disqualify anyone who has been sworn in twice as president from contesting again.

“If he is fielded, the Party runs the RISK of NOT HAVING A CANDIDATE AT ALL,” he wrote, warning that any challenge would end up before the Supreme Court.

“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, hence I use the word ‘RISK’ advisedly. 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 from running AFTER nominations have closed and the PDP is declared as having no candidate, nobody should scream ‘judiciary is corrupt’ because such a large party saw the judicial danger ahead and deliberately ignored it.”

He noted that the PDP would have itself to blame if it overlooked the risk and eventually lost its candidacy.

Keyamo also dismissed the idea of a viable South-West flagbearer for the opposition party.

“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.

“And that candidate will battle with the well-oiled APC structures in the S/West. You need a majority of at least 3 to 4 regions in Nigeria to win the Presidency.”

Keyamo blamed the PDP’s woes on what he described as its “original sin” of failing to zone the 2023 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,” he said, adding that unless “something EXTRAORDINARY happens, the Party may have to wait till 2031.” (Nigerian Tribune)