{
  "id": 19879239,
  "title": "Heaven won’t fall if Atiku is missing from 2027 ballot - Keyamo",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/heaven-wont-fall-if-atiku-is-missing-from-2027-ballot-keyamo",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T21:19:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/11/13/heaven-wont-fall-if-atiku-is-missing-from-2027-ballot-keyamo/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reassured that Nigeria will not face any significant repercussions if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is not included on the ballot for the 2027 presidential election. In an interview on Frontline, Keyamo addressed concerns about his previous remark that heaven would not fall if Atiku did not participate in the 2027 election, amid a leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC). \"The absence of Atiku from the ballot should not be seen as a threat to our democracy,\" Keyamo stated.\n\nKeyamo reminisced about a similar predicament the APC faced in Zamfara when court-ordered removals of its elected officials – including the governor, deputy governor, senators, and members of the National and State Assemblies – did not lead to the country's collapse. He emphasized that the party accepted the court's decision without suggesting national disaster. \"Heaven didn't fall when our candidates were sacked, right from the top down - the governor, deputy governor, all assembly members, senators, and representatives,\" Keyamo pointed out.\n\nAsserting that the judiciary should be permitted to address the complaints raised in opposition party disputes, Keyamo noted that the grievances of those who felt they were wronged should not be dismissed just because notable figures like Atiku and former Senate President David Mark were involved. He dismissed accusations that President Bola Tinubu was behind the ADC's internal turmoil, maintaining that the President has no role in the party's internal affairs. \"The APC has no role in helping opposition parties settle their disputes. We will simply observe and not interfere,\" Keyamo clarified.\n\nRegarding the APC's stance before the 2027 election, Keyamo suggested that it would be advantageous for Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, the former Anambra State Governor, to contest separately, rather than allowing opposition forces to unite under a single candidate. He encouraged opposition leaders to present their grievances before the courts, allowing the judiciary to resolve the disputes without external pressure.",
  "summary": "The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said Nigeria will not suffer any major consequence if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is absent from the ballot for the 2027 presidential election. The minister spoke on Friday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu. He was […] Heaven won’t fall if Atiku is missing…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}