2027: ‘Give Peter Obi the Ticket or Lose His Supporters’– Keyamo warns Coalition

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has thrown a political jab at Nigeria’s newly-formed opposition coalition, warning that failing to offer Peter Obi the 2027 presidential ticket could cost them dearly at the polls.

Keyamo issued the warning while reacting to the coalition’s decision to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its official political platform for the 2027 general elections.

He said the move ultimately benefits the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by exposing fault lines within the opposition.

“If you do not give Peter Obi the Presidential ticket, you lose his supporters. It’s as simple as that,” Keyamo warned in a statement on Wednesday.

Obi’s Popularity at Risk of Being ‘Exploited’

Keyamo accused the coalition comprising key political figures from multiple parties of attempting to ride on Peter Obi’s popularity without giving him a fair chance to lead.

“The person who the old, cunning guards want to take for a ride in all of this is Peter Obi. They want his votes, but don’t want to give him their Presidential ticket,” he said.

He pointed to the appointment of David Mark a longtime ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as interim National Chairman of the ADC as evidence that the alliance is essentially a political vehicle for Atiku’s 2027 ambition.

“This is Atiku’s show simpliciter. Those who know politics know what I am saying,” Keyamo added.

ADC Adoption Signals PDP’s Collapse, Keyamo Claims

The Aviation Minister further described the coalition’s embrace of ADC as a symbolic collapse of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with senior figures abandoning the party for relevance.

“What we are witnessing is the formal disintegration of the PDP. The old guard has been sidelined by younger players, and what remains is a scramble for political survival,” Keyamo claimed.

He added that the coalition now represents a PDP faction, led by Atiku, searching for a fresh platform after repeated defeats at the national level.

Obi as Running Mate? “Insulting,” Says Keyamo

Keyamo argued that it would be politically senseless and insulting to offer Obi the vice presidential slot when he performed better than other coalition members in the last election.

“How can you make someone who won two regions (South-East and South-South) a running mate to someone who won only one (North-East)?”

APC Gains as Defectors Clear Out ‘Opposition Within’

The minister also dismissed the significance of APC defectors joining the coalition, describing them as outliers who either campaigned against President Bola Tinubu in 2023 or failed to win their constituencies.

“Their departure only strengthens the APC by removing dissent. They were never with us.”

A Coalition of Giants—But No Clear Captain Yet

The ADC-led coalition was officially launched on Tuesday during a high-level meeting in Abuja, ending months of speculation about the opposition’s next move.

Former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola were named interim National Chairman and Secretary, respectively.

Key political heavyweights including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi are expected to play pivotal roles in challenging Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

But with festering internal tensions and no consensus on leadership, critics like Keyamo believe the coalition may collapse under its own weight.

“They want Obi’s voters but not Obi. That strategy won’t end well,” Keyamo said bluntly.

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