Festus Keyamo Reacts to ADC Coalition Unveiling, Says Move Strengthens APC for 2027

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has responded to the unveiling of the new political coalition within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as a significant boost to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Reacting to the development, Keyamo argued that the public declaration of allegiance to the ADC by members of other opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), legally indicates their defection from their former parties. Citing electoral law, he noted that belonging to multiple parties is grounds for disqualification and viewed the ADC event as a formal fragmentation of the PDP.

According to him, the PDP—once Nigeria’s most formidable opposition party—has now been effectively dismembered, with the older generation of its members being sidelined by emerging younger figures. He labelled the ADC gathering as a coalition of “former this and former that” from the PDP, asserting that it was essentially a faction loyal to Atiku Abubakar seeking to reposition for the 2027 presidential ticket.

Keyamo dismissed the presence of a few APC defectors within the coalition, describing them as elements who had either worked against President Bola Tinubu in the last election or lost relevance in their constituencies. Their exit, he claimed, amounted to a cleansing of the party, strengthening the APC from within rather than weakening it.

He also suggested that Labour Party leader Peter Obi was being used by the coalition, which he believes is orchestrated by Atiku’s camp. Keyamo questioned the logic of offering Obi a vice-presidential slot, despite his stronger performance in the 2023 election compared to Atiku in terms of regional wins.

In summary, Keyamo said the APC has grown stronger since 2023 due to notable defections in its favour, including governors and lawmakers, while the opposition has become more divided and weakened. He urged the APC to focus on governance as the political realignments within the opposition continue to unfold.