Key Points

• APC ministers openly target Jonathan and Obi in 2027 race.

• Critics say their remarks show APC’s nervousness about opposition.

• Legal battles could decide Jonathan’s fate, not just voters.

Two senior ministers in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet have stirred a storm after openly warning the opposition about who it should or shouldn’t field in 2027.

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, told the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through a post on X that choosing former President Goodluck Jonathan would be a mistake.

He argued Jonathan’s candidacy could be blocked by the courts, leaving PDP stranded without a flagbearer.

Keyamo also threw jabs at talk of Jonathan possibly working with Peter Obi, saying such a move would damage Obi’s credibility with his supporters.

Barely 24 hours later, Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, added fuel to the fire during a press briefing.

He warned PDP leaders not to consider Obi, saying his ambition could “destroy the party.”

Their remarks made waves far beyond PDP circles, raising eyebrows over why APC ministers seem so focused on opposition politics.

Critics say warnings reveal APC’s nervousness

The backlash was immediate. Timothy Osadolor, PDP’s Deputy National Youth Leader, blasted Keyamo’s comments as “reckless” and unbecoming of a minister.

Atiku Abubakar’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, said the warnings showed nothing but fear: “When ruling party officials begin to dictate to the opposition, it only means they are worried about the candidates we can present.”

Journalist Reuben Abati, speaking on Arise TV, turned the spotlight on Wike, questioning his moral ground to talk about “character.”

Instead of weakening PDP, analysts said, the warnings painted APC as jittery and nervous about facing Jonathan or Obi in 2027.

Legal battles loom over Jonathan’s candidacy

The ministers’ statements also reignited debate about Jonathan’s eligibility. Some legal experts insist he still has the constitutional right to run, while others argue a 2017 amendment bars him from another term.

Chidi Odinkalu, a legal scholar, warned that even if Jonathan runs, APC could mount a court challenge timed to derail his candidacy just before the election.

For Obi, Wike’s sharp words underscored APC’s unease about his grassroots appeal, especially among younger voters.

What is clear is that APC fear of Jonathan and Obi is real, and the ruling party is already preparing strategies to counter them long before 2027 arrives.