Aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, publicly rebuked Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo after the minister suggested that the sky would not fall if Atiku were omitted from the 2027 presidential ballot, warning that such exclusion would undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.
Ibe, writing on Facebook, described Keyamo’s stance as an attempt to diminish Nigerians’ right to choose their leader. He argued that removing a major challenger from the contest would damage public trust in the electoral system.
What did Ibe say about the impact of excluding a major challenger?
He asserted, “When a ruling party treats the exclusion of a major challenger as inconsequential, it is asking Nigerians to accept that their choice is inconsequential too. That is how you erode public faith in democracy.”
Ibe questioned why the ruling All Progressives Congress would welcome an election without Atiku if it was confident in President Bola Tinubu’s performance. He insisted that Tinubu should be allowed to defend his record before voters, while Atiku should also be given the chance to present his case.
He expressed confidence that Atiku would enjoy broad support on 16 January 2027, stating, “On 16 January 2027, we intend to turn the support Nigerians have shown Atiku into votes and those votes into a mandate. If Nigerians send Tinubu packing at the ballot box, it will be political hell for an APC that has grown accustomed to taking them for granted.”
Ibe also quoted an Igbo proverb, “A gwa ntị okwu, ntị anụghị, e gburu isi, e gburu ya na ntị,” translating it as a warning that a party that ignores voters will face consequences on election day.
He pledged that Atiku’s supporters would defend their right to choose their preferred candidate through all lawful means and would exercise that right at the polls. The post concluded with a personal jab, accusing Keyamo and his supporters of belonging in hell.