JUST IN:
May 12, 2026
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has faulted the decision of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South for a single term, describing the arrangement as an attempt to deceive Nigerians.
Reacting to the development in a statement on his X account, Keyamo said the proposal reminded him of the pledge made by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 to serve only one full term in office.
The minister argued that there was no guarantee the arrangement would be respected if a southern candidate eventually emerged victorious in the presidential election.
He said the party leadership could later reverse the decision, adding that the move reflected desperation within the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Keyamo further maintained that the arrangement was unrealistic and amounted to what he called “political 419”.
He wrote, “THE NDC AND ITS ‘419’ DECISION.
“The decision of NDC to zone its Presidential ticket to the south for JUST ONE TERM (emphasis on ‘one term’) is an audacious attempt to hoodwink Nigerians. It reminds us of the undertaking by Jonathan in 2011 to serve just one full term and quit.
“So, 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, if in the unlikely event he wins? This is an insult on the sensibilities of Nigerians; it smacks of outright desperation and actually accentuates the dilemma of the opposition a whole in the 2027 Presidential elections.
“It is just a joke taken too far; it is nothing but political 419.”
The reaction followed the resolution reached during the NDC National Convention held on Saturday, where delegates adopted a proposal to reserve the party’s presidential ticket for southern aspirants under a one-term agreement.
The motion was moved by Afam Victor Ogene, who represents Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, and was subsequently adopted by delegates at the convention.
The party also agreed that after the proposed four-year tenure, the presidential ticket would automatically return to the North.
Arise News
