Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has stated that former President Goodluck Jonathan is constitutionally ineligible to contest for the presidency again under Nigeria’s laws.
Speaking during an interview with journalists on Sunday night, Keyamo addressed the ongoing leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and speculations surrounding Jonathan’s possible return to the presidential race.
According to the minister, constitutional provisions already prevent Jonathan from seeking the office again, warning that any attempt to contest would likely be struck down by the Supreme Court.
Keyamo also linked Jonathan’s reported political consideration to divisions within the PDP, particularly a faction allegedly led by Kabir Turaki.
He argued that the faction lacks the legal authority to field candidates for elections, further complicating any potential presidential ambition for the former leader.
He said associating Jonathan with what he described as a legally unrecognised PDP structure could create more political setbacks.
“Jonathan is not constitutionally eligible to run, it is as simple as that. The Supreme Court will most likely disqualify him. And I think he knows because they are dangling the ticket of the PDP that does not exist in law before him, the Turaki-led PDP that cannot field candidates. That is double tragedy for him. But I think they just want to participate in an academic exercise,” Keyamo said.
Jonathan first assumed office in 2010 following the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later won the 2011 presidential election, serving until 2015.
Debates over Jonathan’s constitutional eligibility have persisted for years, largely due to his completion of Yar’Adua’s unfinished tenure before serving a full four-year term as president.
