Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly distance himself from a reported presidential nomination offered by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2027 general election.
Keyamo’s reaction followed the announcement by a PDP faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, which reportedly presented Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the next election cycle.
The development comes amid ongoing leadership disputes within the opposition party, with different factions making separate political declarations.
In a statement shared on his X account on Sunday, the minister described the nomination as lacking legitimacy and questioned the authority of those behind the move.
“This is a strange political drama that has gone beyond reason. It is surprising that individuals who once occupied important positions in government would engage in such actions,” Keyamo said.
He argued that the group responsible for the nomination does not enjoy official recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission and therefore lacks the legal standing to present a presidential candidate.
“Offering a presidential ticket to a former President through a group that is not recognised by the electoral commission diminishes the seriousness of the political process. It is unfortunate that such a respected statesman is being dragged into what appears to be a futile exercise,” he stated.
Keyamo further urged Jonathan to immediately clarify his position and reject the nomination in order to safeguard his reputation both within and outside Nigeria.
“For the sake of his image and legacy, former President Goodluck Jonathan should openly decline this purported nomination. Remaining silent may encourage unnecessary political speculation and revive debates about his past administration,” he said.
The minister’s comments followed reports that the Turaki-led faction had adopted Jonathan as its standard-bearer for the 2027 presidential election.
Earlier, another PDP faction reportedly aligned with supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced Senator Sandy Onor as its preferred presidential candidate.
As of the time of filing this report, Jonathan had not publicly responded to the nomination or the comments made by the aviation minister.
The latest development highlights the deepening divisions within the PDP as political actors continue to position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
