“Opposition Coalition Against Tinubu Is Psychological Warfare on Nigerians” – Keyamo

Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has strongly criticised the recent attempt by former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai and a group of opposition figures to register a new political party ahead of the 2027 general elections. Describing the initiative as “psychological warfare on Nigerians,” Keyamo dismissed the move as a desperate and unserious effort to unseat President Bola Tinubu.

On Friday, a coalition led by El-Rufai submitted an application to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking the registration of a new political party named the All Democratic Alliance (ADA). The move comes amid growing speculation about a coordinated opposition front involving key political figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and Kashim Ibrahim-Imam.

However, Keyamo downplayed the development, saying, “This is just a simple application for party registration. There is nothing like a ‘coalition’ here. It is an unnecessary hype the promoters have been struggling to create all along; it is just a psychological warfare on Nigerians – a weak attempt at mass appeal.”

He went on to describe the proposed party as a poor imitation of the historic merger that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, which led to the electoral defeat of an incumbent government for the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history. “If they are thinking of recreating what the APC did in 2013, then this is nothing but a pedestrian joke; a complete mockery of that seismic political coalition,” Keyamo said.

The minister further argued that the attempt does not represent a genuine merger or coalition but is merely the constitutional right of a few individuals trying to form a political party. “No recognised existing political party or parties are part of this,” he noted. “This is not different from several political associations springing up every day for the same purpose.”

The registration bid comes shortly after INEC reiterated that all political associations must strictly comply with constitutional and electoral guidelines, warning that no amount of pressure would sway the commission’s position.

Critics of the new alliance have questioned its credibility and viability, pointing to the past records and political alignments of its key actors. Keyamo concluded that the much-publicised move was an anti-climax. “After all the razzmatazz, it boils down to the fact that a new political party is just attempting registration by a few Nigerians; it is a disappointing anti-climax to all the preceding pomp and pageantry.”