The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reacted to the formation of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, asserting that it will paradoxically strengthen the All Progressives Congress (APC) in anticipation of the 2027 general elections.
In a post shared via his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, Keyamo contended that this new movement has, in effect, weakened the opposition, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party.
He explicitly stated, “What happened earlier today with the movement of the so-called ‘coalition’ into the ADC is the greatest factor that has strengthened the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.”
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Citing legal provisions, the minister argued that the defectors have effectively abandoned their previous political platforms.
He elaborated, “By law, you cannot operate from, or belong to two or multiple political parties, so it is safe to say that their open declaration for ADC today is a clear abandonment of their previous parties,” adding that membership in two parties could lead to disqualification in an election.
Keyamo further posited that the coalition represents what he termed a “formal dismemberment of the PDP,” which he described as “hitherto Nigeria’s strongest opposition party.”
He claimed that the PDP’s internal crisis had led to the displacement of its long-standing members, allowing loyalists of Atiku Abubakar to assume control.
He characterized the gathering as a “conglomerate of ‘former this’ and ‘former that’ of the PDP,” and dismissed it as “just Atiku’s faction of the PDP in desperate search for the 2027 presidential ticket — nothing more, nothing less.”
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Keyamo also addressed the presence of some APC members within the new coalition, maintaining that their defection poses no threat to the ruling party.
He noted, “The other addition to the so-called ‘coalition’ is a sprinkling of APC members who actually worked against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the last election.”
According to him, “Their movement, therefore, takes nothing away from the APC.” In fact, he suggested, “It is actually better for the APC because it is just a case of totally extracting the germ that was eating the cola nut from within.”
Addressing the role of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the emerging alliance, Keyamo accused the PDP bloc of attempting to exploit Obi’s significant support base.
He claimed, “The person whom the old, cunning guards want to take for a ride in all of this is Peter Obi. They want his votes, but don’t want to give him their presidential ticket, because this is Atiku’s show simpliciter.”
Keyamo questioned the logical consistency of making Obi a running mate despite his strong regional performance in the last election, stating, “If you do not give Peter Obi the presidential ticket, you lose his supporters. It is as simple as that. And how can you make someone who won two regions in the last election (South-East and South-South) a running mate to the person who won only one region (North-East)?”
Keyamo concluded by reiterating his stance that these defections weaken the opposition while leaving the APC largely unaffected.
He predicted, “When the dust settles, you will discover that the PDP and the Labour Party have lost something, the ADC has only gained something like a caricature, but the APC has lost absolutely nothing.”
He further asserted that “Since the 2023 elections, the APC has become stronger, whilst the opposition parties have been fragmented and have become weaker.”
The minister highlighted that since 2023, numerous governors, senators, and House of Representatives members have joined the APC, in contrast to a mere handful who have left, questioning which group any serious political movement would prefer to have in its ranks.
Keyamo wrapped up his remarks by stating, “For now, let us face governance and allow them exercise their constitutional right to associate and assemble.”
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