2027 Presidency: You lack moral authority to advise Jonathan, PDP tells Keyamo

.Asks Aviation minister to advise APC-led administration to address challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians

‘Focus on challenges in Aviation sector rather than commenting on PDP’s internal affairs’

The Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), over his comments urging former President Goodluck Jonathan to reject the party’s presidential nomination for the 2027 election.

Recall that Jonathan’s candidacy was ratified on Saturday at a special national convention in Abuja.

However, Keyamo on Sunday asked the former president to reject the presidential ticket, describing the Turaki-led PDP’s action as a “bizarre comedy”.

But in a statement issued on Tuesday, National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led PDP, Ini Ememobong, said the Aviation and Aerospace Development minister lacked the moral authority to offer political advice to Jonathan.

Ememobong said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is apprehensive about Jonathan’s planned return to office.

 “The desperation and anxiety that have increasingly characterised reactions from the ruling APC to the growing national clamour for President Jonathan’s return to leadership make it necessary to set the record straight,” the statement reads.

Ememobong said Keyamo, who was known for challenging governments and defending democratic principles, now appeared comfortable with the “shrinking of political space for the opposition”.

He asked the minister to focus on the challenges in the aviation sector and the broader administration rather than commenting on the PDP’s internal affairs.

Ememobong said Nigerians are more concerned about economic hardship, insecurity, rising unemployment and declining purchasing power than political remarks directed at Jonathan.

He said no “intimidation, blackmail, or scaremongering can prevent Nigerians from freely expressing their political preferences or supporting leaders they believe can help reposition the country”.

“If Festus Keyamo truly wishes to offer advice, he should begin by advising the APC-led administration to address the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians. Until then, his attempts to lecture others on governance and political judgment will continue to ring hollow,” he said.

“Finally, if any political party has exemplified cluelessness in public administration, it has been the APC-led federal government since 2015. So if Keyamo is attempting to point a finger of cluelessness, he should look at the four pointing back at him,” he added.

Ememobong said democracy guarantees citizens the right to make leadership choices without interference from those who presently occupy public office.

The Turaki-led PDP further contended that Nigerians were more concerned about economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and declining living standards than political commentary directed at Jonathan.

It also criticised the performance of the APC-led administration, alleging that the country had experienced worsening economic conditions, infrastructure challenges and governance concerns under the ruling party.

Defending Jonathan, the PDP said many Nigerians continue to view his administration positively, citing what it described as political stability, economic growth and improved investor confidence during his tenure.

 “The obvious nervousness that has greeted President Jonathan’s candidacy is understandable, because Nigerians have not forgotten that under his administration, the country enjoyed political stability, sustained economic growth, increased foreign investor confidence, and a more inclusive national atmosphere,” the party stated.

The opposition party maintained that no amount of intimidation or political pressure would prevent Nigerians from supporting leaders of their choice.

It added that as the country approaches another election cycle, citizens are increasingly seeking “competent, unifying and selfless leadership” capable of addressing the nation’s challenges.

The PDP concluded by advising Keyamo to channel his attention toward helping the Federal Government tackle pressing national issues rather than offering what it described as unsolicited advice to the former president.