2027: Heaven will not fall without Atiku on ballot – Keyamo

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, stated that Nigeria will not experience any disaster without the former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the race for the 2027 general elections.

Keyamo made his remarks after the Federal High Court ruling Thursday, which dissolved the David Mark-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) and invalidating the nomination of the flagbearers of the opposition party. In recalling the reaction of Atiku to the Supreme Court rulings which annulled the election victory of the APC candidates in Bayelsa and Zamfara States.

This newspaper reports that the Supreme Court annulled the victories of the ruling APC in 2020, paving the way for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to take over the states.

The Supreme Court had nullified the election of David Lyon, the APC governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, a day before his scheduled inauguration.

Lyon, who had won the November 2019 governorship election, was disqualified alongside his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, after the apex court ruled that the deputy governorship candidate presented forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The judgment paved the way for the inauguration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Douye Diri, as governor.

Keyamo also recalled the Supreme Court’s January 2019 judgment on the Zamfara State elections, which nullified the victories of APC candidates across the state, including those contesting for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly seats.

The apex court had ruled that the APC failed to conduct valid primaries within the stipulated period, thereby rendering its candidates ineligible to participate in the elections. Consequently, candidates of the PDP, which came second in the polls, were declared winners.

In a social media post, Keyamo said the APC accepted the court’s decisions in both instances without attacking the judiciary, despite the  political consequences of the rulings.

He further recalled Atiku’s reaction to the Zamfara judgment, quoting the former vice-president as saying the ruling was against the party in power and that political actors should accept court decisions rather than attack judges.

Drawing a comparison with the current political situation ahead of the 2027 elections, Keyamo said the same standard should apply irrespective of whose political interest is affected.

Keyamo also cautioned against what he described as attempts to intimidate judges and blackmail the judiciary over electoral decisions that do not favour certain political interests.

“You cannot abuse judges and blackmail the judiciary when it doesn’t go your way,” he said.

The minister added that the absence of Atiku, who has contested the presidency multiple times, from the 2027 ballot should not be treated as a threat to the country.

“Heavens WILL NOT FALL IF A CERTAIN ATIKU ABUBAKAR IS NOT ON THE BALLOT IN 2027,” Keyamo declared.

His comments come amid political realignments and growing disagreements among opposition parties over their strategies and preparations for the 2027 presidential election.