Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Festus Keyamo, has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against fielding former President Goodluck Jonathan or ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in the 2027 elections, citing legal and political risks.
The former Minister of State for Labour and Employment in a post shared on social media, analysed the party’s position following its decision to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the southern region.
He described the situation as “not an enviable one at all,” noting that the PDP lost its longstanding dominance in the South-South and South-East regions during the 2023 elections after failing to zone its ticket.
According to Keyamo, fielding Jonathan could expose the PDP to a constitutional risk. “One of its attractive targets as a Presidential candidate is ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, because of his purported eligibility to run for only one term. But, if he is fielded, the Party runs the RISK of NOT HAVING A CANDIDATE AT ALL by virtue of section 137 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (Fourth Amendment),” he wrote.
Keyamo explained that the constitutional amendment was enacted after the 2015 court judgment that cleared Jonathan to run, meaning the legal question remains undecided and could be settled only by the Supreme Court.
Keyamo also highlighted the challenges of fielding a southern candidate from the South-West, including Peter Obi. He argued that regional voting dynamics could limit the PDP’s chances: “No other region of the country will vote for a fresh Yoruba candidate who would be eligible for fresh two terms in office. And that candidate will battle with the well-oiled APC structures in the S/West. You need a majority of at least 3 to 4 regions in Nigeria to win the Presidency.”
He further noted that returning to Obi could alienate supporters who see him as abandoning his previous stance on governance reform, potentially weakening his base: “The principled ones amongst the ‘obidients’ will see him as going back to his vomit of ‘structure of criminality’ and may not be too vociferous in their support anymore.”
Keyamo attributed the PDP’s current predicament to what he described as an “original sin” in 2023 when the party failed to zone its presidential ticket to the South.
He concluded that unless extraordinary circumstances arise, the PDP may need to wait until 2031 to regain strategic advantage.
“The young social media warriors may lampoon anyone talking about these zoning sentiments, but that is the REALITY of our politics and it is not about to end,” he said.
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