Festus Keyamo has criticised the NDC coalition’s decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South for a single term
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has criticised the reported decision of the NDC coalition to zone its presidential ticket to the South for a single term ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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Keyamo made his position known in a statement shared on his official page on May 11, 2026, where he described the arrangement as an attempt to mislead Nigerians.
He questioned the credibility and long-term sustainability of the proposal, arguing that it raises serious political and ethical concerns.
“The decision of NDC to zone its Presidential ticket to the south for just one term is an audacious attempt to hoodwink Nigerians,” he stated.
The development is linked to discussions within the opposition coalition, which has been positioning itself ahead of the next general elections.
Keyamo compared the arrangement to the 2011 political pledge made by former President Goodluck Jonathan, who committed to serving only one term.
He further raised concerns about possible political instability if such an arrangement were later altered after electoral victory.
The minister questioned what would happen if a winning candidate defects or if party leadership reverses the zoning agreement after securing power.
“What happens if Peter Obi changes his party, assuming he wins, or as leader of the NDC he gets the NEC of the party to reverse the decision?” he asked.
Keyamo described the zoning proposal as a sign of desperation within the opposition camp as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
He further labelled the arrangement as “political 419”, a phrase commonly used in Nigeria to describe fraudulent or deceptive schemes.
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The remarks add to ongoing political debates over zoning, coalition-building and power rotation strategies ahead of the next general elections.
