Politics
2027 PRESIDENCY: Keyamo Has No Moral Authority to Advise Jonathan – PDP Fires Back
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly rejected recent comments by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, regarding the party’s decision to affirm former President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
In a strongly worded press statement issued on Tuesday, the PDP declared that Keyamo lacks the moral authority to lecture the opposition party or its potential candidate.
The party noted that while it would ordinarily ignore such remarks, the growing desperation and anxiety within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the rising clamour for Jonathan’s return necessitated a firm response.
The full statement reads:
“The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to the recent comments by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, concerning the Party’s affirmation of President Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Ordinarily, the PDP would not have dignified such comments with a response. However, 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.
It is rather ironic that Festus Keyamo, a man who built his public profile through relentless criticism of governments and public office holders, now seeks to deny others the very democratic space he once occupied with such enthusiasm. Nigerians remember the Keyamo who challenged those in power, spoke against perceived injustices, and approached the courts in defence of democratic principles.
Instead of concerning himself with the internal affairs of the PDP, the Minister would do well to devote his energy to addressing the numerous challenges confronting the aviation sector and the wider administration of which he is a part. Nigerians are far more interested in solutions to the worsening economic hardship, persistent insecurity, declining purchasing power, and the growing insecurity across the country than in unsolicited political advice directed at President Jonathan.
Under the APC administration, Nigerians have witnessed unprecedented economic difficulties, repeated collapse of critical infrastructure, rising unemployment, and corruption scandals that continue to raise serious concerns about transparency and accountability in government. These are the issues deserving of the Minister’s commentary and advice to the incumbent president.
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.
We can assure Keyamo and the APC that no amount of 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.
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.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun the nationwide display of the preliminary register of voters and the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) today, Friday, October 9, 2026, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The seven-day exercise, which runs until October 15, will take place simultaneously across registration areas and wards in all states. It allows registered voters to verify their details on the register, raise claims or objections, and collect PVCs from the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) conducted between August and December 2025. Collection hours are from 9am to 3pm daily, including weekends.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, confirmed that Nigeria’s National Register of Voters now stands at over 103 million following the completion of the three-phase CVR exercise and a final Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup. The exercise recorded 10,772,421 new registrations.
Phase 1 PVCs have already been processed and distributed to local government collection centres. After the seven-day ward-level exercise, further collection will continue at INEC Local Government Area offices. The commission stressed that PVCs cannot be collected by proxy, in line with the Electoral Act.
The display of the preliminary register is required under Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates INEC to exhibit the voter register not less than 90 days before the general elections.
Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
INEC has urged eligible voters to check their status online via its voter verification portal and to collect their cards promptly to avoid disenfranchisement.
The Igueben Local Government Chairman allegedly led a team of gun-toting assailants in an attack on the entourage of Kenneth Imasuangbon and Edo Central ADC Senatorial candidate Hon. Herbeta Okonofua on Tuesday.
According to a statement by ADC State Publicity Secretary Chris Ojeikere, the attackers opened fire at the premises of the Enogie of Igueben, fatally shooting Jerry Oliha, a young man from ADC Ward 6. Oliha was rushed to Irrua Specialist Hospital, where doctors are fighting to save his life.
Jerry Oliha ward six Ebelle I given local government area. He’s a widower with five children
The shooting marks the third attack on the same entourage in a single day. Earlier incidents were reported at Ward 4 and Ward 5 of the local government area.
Ojeikere described the assault as the climax of a series of violent attacks on ADC members and infrastructure, linking them to threats allegedly made by Jarrett Tenebe.
Similar coordinated attacks, he said, had earlier been reported in Etsako East, Owan West, and Owan East, each purportedly directed by the respective local government chairmen.
Bullet casings recovered from the scene have been handed over to the police and the Enogie. Canopies, chairs, and musical instruments valued at millions of naira were destroyed at the palace premises.
The Divisional Police Officer of Igueben Local Government Area has been informed and is involved in the investigation. ADC said it would release a comprehensive report on the incidents shortly.
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike,says that he thinks about President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in January 2027 every time he sleeps.
Wike shared his emotions during a town hall meetings with the Rumueme and Apara kingdoms in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Monday.
“Each day I sleep, I am thinking about the president’s re-election. When I am eating, I think about the president’s re-election. Everything I am doing now is about the president’s re-election,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor said he was committed to ensuring Tinubu secured a second term in office and urged residents of the state to vote massively for the president in the 2027 election.
“Let us forget sentiment and vote for the person who has recognised the people of Rivers State with dividends of democracy and with several appointments.
“I know the re-election of Tinubu in 2027 will be easier than that of 2023. We should appreciate Tinubu and ensure he gets a massive number of votes. We can do it.” Said Wike.
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