Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to decline the presidential ticket reportedly offered to him by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying doing so would help protect his global reputation.
The Kabiru Turaki-led PDP faction announced Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election on Saturday, despite the former president not being present at the event.
Although Jonathan has not publicly declared any intention to contest the election, speculation about a possible political comeback has continued ahead of the 2027 polls.
Reacting to the development, Keyamo described the decision by the Turaki-led faction as a “bizarre comedy”.
The faction led by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), remains the PDP group recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“This is some kind of bizarre comedy taken too far by supposedly grown adults and some names that were actually in the corridors of power at some point in this country,” Keyamo said.
“Giving a whole Presidential ticket to an ex-President and statesman by proxy and by a bunch of people not even registered on INEC’s website. And they don’t give a hoot dragging such a revered figure into their charade that is certainly a journey to nowhere. Quite sad.
“For the sake of his global image, President Goodluck Jonathan must IMMEDIATELY issue a strong ‘no, thank you’ statement, lest Nigerians begin to recall the ‘clueless’ campaign that got him out of power – first sitting President to be so ousted.”
Although Jonathan was absent from the event, Fred Agbedi, a member of the House of Representatives from Bayelsa State, received the party’s certificate of return on his behalf.
Sources indicated that a date for the formal presentation of the party’s flag to Jonathan would be announced later.