The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly reject a reported presidential nomination offered to him by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Keyamo made the call in a post on X on Sunday, describing the development as a “bizarre comedy” and questioning the legitimacy of the faction behind the nomination.
The PDP faction, reportedly led by Tanimu Turaki, had recently announced Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election, sparking controversy within the party.
However, another faction aligned with supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had earlier declared Senator Sandy Onor as its own presidential candidate, highlighting ongoing divisions within the opposition party.
Keyamo argued that the group that announced Jonathan’s nomination is not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing its actions as politically irrelevant.
“This is some kind of bizarre comedy taken too far by supposedly grown adults,” he wrote, adding that the faction is “not even registered on INEC’s website.”
He criticised the move as an attempt to drag a former president into what he called a political charade, warning that it could damage Jonathan’s reputation.
“For the sake of his global image, President Goodluck Jonathan must immediately issue a strong ‘no, thank you’ statement,” Keyamo stated.
He further referenced Jonathan’s 2015 election defeat, saying Nigerians might be reminded of the campaign narratives that led to his exit from office.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has not yet publicly responded to the reported nomination or the controversy surrounding it.
The PDP has continued to face internal disputes, with multiple factions laying claim to leadership structures and issuing conflicting political declarations ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
Political observers say the latest episode reflects ongoing instability within the opposition party as it struggles to present a unified front.
As of now, no official clarification has been issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission regarding the status or recognition of the faction involved in the announcement.
