Nigeria: PDP slams Keyamo over advice to Jonathan on 2027 presidency

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has hit back at the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over his comments urging former President Goodluck Jonathan to reject the party’s presidential nomination for the 2027 election.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, the opposition party accused Keyamo of meddling in its internal affairs and questioned his moral standing to offer political advice to Jonathan.

The PDP said it was inappropriate for a serving minister in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to dictate who the main opposition party should field as its candidate. It described Keyamo’s remarks as “unwarranted interference” and an attempt to distract the PDP from its preparations for the 2027 polls.

“Festus Keyamo does not have the moral right to advise Dr. Goodluck Jonathan or the PDP on matters of party strategy and candidate selection,” the statement read. “He should focus on his responsibilities in government instead of dabbling into the internal affairs of another party.”

Keyamo had earlier publicly advised Jonathan against accepting the PDP’s ticket, arguing that a return to the presidency would be inconsistent and politically unwise. His comments sparked reactions across the political spectrum, with many PDP supporters viewing it as a ploy to influence the party’s zoning and nomination process.

The PDP did not confirm or deny whether Jonathan is under consideration for 2027, but maintained that decisions on its presidential candidate will be made by the party’s leadership and members, not by APC officials.

The exchange adds to the early political jostling ahead of the 2027 general elections, as parties begin to test narratives and position key figures.