Two serving ministers from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet have sparked controversy by publicly warning the opposition about potential presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election.
Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, cautioned that if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nominates former President Goodluck Jonathan, the party risks disqualification by the Supreme Court due to constitutional eligibility issues. Keyamo added that some supporters of Peter Obi would see Jonathan’s return as a “betrayal,” dismissing such supporters as lacking ideological commitment.
The next day, Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCT, warned that nominating Peter Obi could destroy the PDP, stressing that the party would “regret” such a decision.
Their statements prompted backlash from the opposition. PDP Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor condemned Keyamo’s remarks as unbecoming and self-serving. Meanwhile, Atiku Abubakar’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, said that such advisories signal “fear” within the APC.
Legal scholars, including Chidi Odinkalu, noted that the ministers’ dramatic warnings suggest that the APC could resort to litigation to disqualify Jonathan. Others, such as Prof. Cyprian Edward-Ekpo, emphasized that any qualified Nigerian should have the right to run for president, and that attempts to bar such candidacy are neither moral nor constitutional.
