The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to publicly disown the presidential nomination said to have been offered to him by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Keyamo argued that the group behind the announcement is not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting that its actions have no legal or political standing.
A PDP faction reportedly led by Tanimu Turaki recently declared Jonathan as its preferred candidate for the 2027 presidential election. This development came shortly after another splinter group within the party, aligned with supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced Senator Sandy Onor as its own flagbearer.
Reacting via his X handle on Sunday, Keyamo described the situation as an “unusual and embarrassing comedy,” faulting those involved in the nomination process.
He questioned how individuals operating outside officially recognised party structures could go as far as assigning a presidential ticket to a former head of state, warning that such actions diminish serious political engagement.
According to him, the move amounts to dragging a respected statesman into what he described as a political distraction with no clear direction or legitimacy.
Keyamo further urged Jonathan to quickly issue a clear rejection of the nomination to protect his public image, noting that silence could lead to renewed public criticism of his past administration.
Jonathan, however, has not responded publicly to the nomination announced by the Turaki-led faction.
The PDP has continued to experience internal divisions, with competing groups laying claim to party structures and issuing conflicting decisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.