Jonathan to Keyamo, Odinkalu: Keep Off My 2027 Ambition; Wike Warns Ex-President is Being ‘Deceived’
ABUJA, FCT – September 2, 2025 – The unofficial race for the 2027 presidency has escalated dramatically, with former President Goodluck Jonathan issuing a stern warning to critics questioning his eligibility to run, telling them to “keep off his political journey.”
The rebuke came as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, simultaneously cautioned that Jonathan is being “misled” and “deceived” by political opportunists pushing him to contest. This flurry of high-stakes political maneuvering from key figures signals a turbulent and early start to the battle for 2027.
The Legal Tussle: Jonathan’s Camp Rebuffs Eligibility Concerns
The controversy was ignited by recent public statements from the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, and law professor Chidi Odinkalu. Both legal experts had warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against fielding Jonathan, arguing that he is constitutionally barred from contesting again after having been sworn into office twice.
Responding forcefully on behalf of the former President, his brother, Robert Azibaola, dismissed their arguments as unsolicited and flawed.
“GEJ is 100% constitutionally and legally qualified to contest, if he chooses to,” Azibaola wrote on his verified Facebook page. He chided Keyamo and Odinkalu for offering legal advice where none was sought, claiming Jonathan has access to “more cerebral, more experienced SANs” and even offered to “properly educate” the pair on existing court judgments on the matter.
Wike’s Intervention: A Mix of Praise and a Stern Warning
In a televised media chat, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike delivered a complex and powerful intervention. While praising Jonathan’s legacy, he issued a stark warning against a 2027 presidential bid.
“I know Jonathan very well. He has international respect and should maintain that,” Wike stated. “These same people weighing Jonathan down are the ones who played him in 2015. He is being misled by some political hawks… They are only trying to cause confusion in the party.”
Wike also used the opportunity to comment on the broader political landscape, making several key points:
He dismissed former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s prediction that President Bola Tinubu would lose in 2027, expressing strong confidence in Tinubu’s re-election.
He warned that giving the PDP presidential ticket to former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, would “spell doom for the PDP.”
He lauded Jonathan as the only Nigerian leader to have gracefully conceded defeat in an election, urging other politicians to emulate his example.
Atiku Weighs In: Power Belongs to the People
Adding another dimension to the developing story, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar offered a more philosophical take. He asserted that the ultimate decision for 2027 lies not with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or the opposition PDP, but with the Nigerian electorate.
“Nigerians… will determine the outcome of the 2027 presidential election,” Atiku’s statement suggested, positioning himself above the current infighting.
The 2027 Chessboard: Early Moves and High Stakes
Although former President Jonathan has not yet made any formal declaration about his intentions, the fierce and immediate reactions to his rumoured ambition reveal the high stakes and deep-seated anxieties surrounding the 2027 race.
The public statements from figures like Keyamo, Wike, and Odinkalu expose the strategic calculations and potential fault lines within Nigeria’s major political camps. Wike’s comments, in particular, highlight the profound internal turmoil and unresolved conflicts within the PDP following its 2023 defeat.
This web of warnings, legal challenges, and strategic posturing has effectively fired the starting gun on a long and unpredictable journey to the 2027 presidential election.
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