The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that fielding former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate in 2027 carries a major constitutional risk that could leave the party without a flagbearer.
In a statement posted on X on Sunday, Keyamo said section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, presents a potential legal barrier that could disqualify Jonathan if he is nominated.
“One of the PDP’s most attractive prospects for 2027 is former President Goodluck Jonathan, based on claims that he can only serve a single term if elected. But if he is fielded, the party faces the risk of having no candidate at all under section 137(3) of the Constitution,” Keyamo stated.
He stressed that the legal uncertainty would ultimately be settled at the Supreme Court, warning that relying on social media debates to interpret the constitutional provision was futile.
“The constitutional amendment was passed after the court ruling that cleared him to contest in 2015. Nothing definitive has been decided on this amendment yet, so I use the word ‘risk’ deliberately. If Jonathan is disqualified after nominations close and the PDP is declared without a candidate, no one should accuse the judiciary of corruption. The party would have walked into that trap with its eyes open,” Keyamo cautioned.
The minister argued that Jonathan’s eligibility could be challenged because he has already been sworn in twice as president, first in 2010 following the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and again in 2011 after winning a full term.
Keyamo said the PDP would have itself to blame if it ignored clear constitutional concerns, emphasising that a legal setback could prove disastrous for the opposition party’s electoral ambitions.
“The PDP’s current position is unenviable. In 2023, it failed to deliberately zone its presidential ticket to the South, costing it deep-rooted influence in the South-South and South-East. Now, chasing Jonathan’s candidacy without addressing these legal risks could trigger a repeat of its failures,” he wrote.
The minister’s remarks come amid growing calls from some political groups for Jonathan to contest the 2027 election. Jonathan served as president between 2010 and 2015 before losing to Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.
