Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has said it would not be the end of the world if former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar does not appear on the ballot for the 2027 presidential election.
Gatekeepers News reports that Keyamo made the remark in a post on X on Friday amid reactions to Thursday’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which sacked the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and nullified Atiku’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate.
The minister recalled the Supreme Court’s 2019 judgment that nullified the victories of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in Zamfara State, from the governorship to the state House of Assembly, and declared their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opponents winners.
Following the judgment on May 24, 2019, Atiku, who contested the presidential election that year on the platform of the PDP, commended the apex court, describing its decision as a victory for the rule of law.
In a statement issued by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, the former vice-president had said: “Nothing is as pleasing to the ears of believers, as justice being served in the holy month of Ramadan.”
Keyamo questioned why opposition parties would accuse the judiciary of bias and attack judges when rulings go against them, but praise the same institution when decisions favour their interests.
He also cited the Supreme Court’s February 13, 2020 judgment, which nullified David Lyon’s election as governor of Bayelsa State, a day before his scheduled inauguration, paving the way for Douye Diri, the PDP candidate and incumbent governor, to assume office.
According to Keyamo, the APC accepted the court’s decisions at the time without resorting to attacks against the judiciary.
“You cannot abuse judges and blackmail the judiciary when it doesn’t go your way,” he said.
The minister added: “Heavens WILL NOT FALL IF A CERTAIN ATIKU ABUBAKAR IS NOT ON THE BALLOT IN 2027.”
In Thursday’s judgment, Peter Lifu, the presiding judge, declared the Mark-led caretaker committee of the ADC illegal and ruled in favour of Nafiu Bala, a former national deputy chairman of the party from the North-East.
The court also invalidated decisions taken by the caretaker committee, including its nomination of Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Reacting to the judgment earlier, Keyamo said the ruling demonstrated that the law was guided by facts and evidence rather than sentiments and public outrage.
He further argued that Atiku and the Mark-led leadership could not “invade and hijack” a political party without facing legal consequences.
