The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has criticised the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, urging him to focus on challenges facing the aviation industry instead of commenting on former President Goodluck Jonathan’s reported 2027 presidential bid.
The faction made the remarks on Tuesday through its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, following Keyamo’s reaction to the group’s declaration of Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The PDP faction had on Saturday announced Jonathan as its candidate in absentia, a move that drew criticism from Keyamo, who subsequently urged the former president to distance himself from both the party and the nomination.
Responding, the faction accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of being unsettled by the growing calls for Jonathan’s return to national leadership, insisting that the reaction from Keyamo reflected anxiety within the governing party.
According to the group, many Nigerians still associate Jonathan’s administration with political stability, economic growth, improved investor confidence and a more inclusive national atmosphere.
The faction further faulted Keyamo for what it described as interference in the internal affairs of the PDP, arguing that the minister should instead devote his attention to addressing pressing national issues, including economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and challenges within the aviation sector.
It also questioned the APC’s record in government, alleging that Nigerians have faced worsening economic conditions, infrastructure failures and governance concerns since the party assumed power in 2015.
The group maintained that citizens have the constitutional right to support political leaders of their choice and insisted that no amount of pressure or intimidation could prevent Nigerians from expressing their political preferences ahead of the 2027 elections.
The PDP faction added that as the country moves closer to another electoral cycle, public attention is increasingly shifting towards the search for leadership capable of fostering unity, stability and national development.
It concluded by calling on the APC-led administration to prioritise solutions to the country’s challenges rather than focusing on opposition politics.