By Opara Ejike
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a stern warning to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), cautioning that its 2027 presidential strategy could collapse if it considers fielding either former President Goodluck Jonathan or former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as its presidential candidate.
Keyamo, a senior member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), argued that both men present major strategic weaknesses that could severely undermine the PDP’s chances in the next general election.
Keyamo specifically warned against efforts by PDP leaders to court Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, back into the fold. According to him, any attempt to reintegrate Obi without handing him the party’s presidential ticket will alienate his devoted supporters—popularly known as the “Obidients.
If you do not give Peter Obi the presidential ticket, you lose his supporters,” Keyamo stated, referencing the intense loyalty of the movement Obi inspired in 2023.
He added that Obi’s past criticisms of the PDP and APC as “structures of criminality” could return to haunt him, should he attempt to reunite with the very platform he denounced.
How do you return to a platform you once condemned as corrupt and still maintain credibility?” Keyamo questioned.
Beyond party politics, Keyamo also challenged Obi’s electoral viability across Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions. He argued that the factors that propelled Obi to prominence in 2023—religious sentiment, southeastern solidarity, and youth enthusiasm—are unlikely to recreate the same political wave in 2027.
If you put Peter Obi forward again, he cannot penetrate the North. We [APC] have strong political structures there that he lacks,” the minister asserted.
According to him, without robust nationwide networks and alliances, especially in the North, any presidential bid from Obi would be limited in scope and likely ineffective against the APC’s entrenched grassroots machinery.
Although Keyamo did not directly criticize former President Jonathan, he alluded to the internal divisions his rumored candidacy is causing within the PDP. While some party elders see Jonathan as a unifying figure who could serve a single transitional term, others are wary of revisiting a political past they believe should remain closed.
Reports suggest that several northern PDP stakeholders are backing Jonathan as a “safe bet,” but younger and southern factions are leaning toward more progressive or youth-focused candidates, including Obi or Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
Keyamo’s remarks amplify ongoing concerns about the PDP’s identity crisis and strategic confusion as it prepares for the next election cycle. With multiple factions pulling in different directions, the party faces a tough challenge in selecting a candidate capable of uniting its base and attracting swing voters across the regions.
The PDP must tread carefully, Keyamo warned. Fielding a candidate based on nostalgia or sentiment, rather than nationwide appeal and strategic thinking, will only hand the election to the APC on a platter.
As the 2027 race gradually begins to take shape, political observers will be closely watching the PDP’s next moves and whether it can overcome internal discord to present a viable alternative to the ruling party.
