The Traffic

Jonathan to Keyamo, Odinkalu: Stay Away from My Political Journey

ABUJA — Former President Goodluck Jonathan has fired back at Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo (SAN), and legal scholar Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, warning them to stay out of his political future as speculations intensify over his possible return to the presidential race in 2027.

Both Keyamo and Odinkalu had urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to consider Jonathan for its ticket, arguing that since he had been sworn in twice, his eligibility would face a legal challenge.

Responding through his brother, Robert Azibaola, Jonathan dismissed their warnings as unsolicited and irrelevant.

“Keep Off Jonathan’s Path”

Azibaola, writing on Facebook, said:

“GEJ has numerous, more cerebral SANs at his disposal. He is 100% constitutionally and legally qualified to contest, if he chooses to. Your unsolicited legal advice is of no concern to him and will never be.”

He accused Keyamo and Odinkalu of “dwelling unnecessarily” on an ambition Jonathan has not yet declared, warning them against meddling in his affairs.

Wike Cautions Jonathan

Meanwhile, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike weighed in, cautioning Jonathan not to allow himself to be misled by political “hawks” within the PDP.

“I know Jonathan very well. He has international respect and should maintain that. These same people weighing him down now are the ones who played him in 2015,” Wike said in a televised media chat.

He warned that bringing former Anambra governor Peter Obi back into the PDP fold as a presidential candidate would spell “disaster” for the party.

“Ambition can even make people go to Satan’s house. If you want to destroy this party, dare it. Let Obi come, there is nowhere he will go,” he declared.

Wike also dismissed Nasir El-Rufai’s claim that President Bola Tinubu would come a distant third in 2027, saying the former Kaduna governor’s “mathematics failed him.” Confident of Tinubu’s chances, Wike added:

“I will put a bet, Tinubu will win this election squarely. There will be no runoff.”

Atiku: Nigerians Will Decide 2027

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also reacted, saying the outcome of 2027 will not be determined by APC or PDP, but by Nigerians themselves.

His media aide, Paul Ibe, said Atiku is working with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, which is already attracting broad support.

“The APC and PDP may have dominated politics for a while, but Nigerians are the real force. They will decide what happens in 2027,” Ibe stated, citing recent mass defections from PDP to the ADC in Lagos as evidence of shifting political alignments.

The Bigger Picture

While Jonathan has not declared his ambition, the heated exchanges underscore the high stakes ahead of 2027. His potential return is already sparking legal debates, political warnings, and realignments — even before he makes his intentions known.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna