Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has described the newly unveiled African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a coalition of the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) old guard and All Progressives Congress (APC) members who worked against President Bola Tinubu's election.
Keyamo made these assertions in a series of posts on X following the official unveiling of the ADC on Wednesday, where he claimed the development actually strengthens the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
"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. In fact, belonging to two political parties is a ground for disqualification in an election," Keyamo stated.
PDP Dismemberment and Atiku's Influence
The minister characterized the ADC's emergence as marking "the formal dismemberment of the PDP, hitherto Nigeria's strongest opposition Party." He suggested that the coalition represents "just Atiku's faction of PDP in desperate search for the 2027 Presidential ticket."
"Majority of the old guard in the PDP (who have apparently lost control of the Party) have been pushed out of the party by the Younger Turks within the PDP," Keyamo noted, describing the gathering as "a conglomerate of 'former this' and 'former that' of the PDP."
Peter Obi's Position in the Coalition
Keyamo claimed that Peter Obi is being manipulated by "old, cunning guards" who want his votes but are reluctant to offer him their presidential ticket. He pointed to David Mark's appointment as interim chairman as evidence of this strategy.
"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)?" he questioned.
APC's Position Strengthened
The minister asserted that the APC has actually become stronger since the 2023 elections, while opposition parties have fragmented and weakened. He described the APC members who joined the ADC as those "who actually worked against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the last election and one or two APC leaders who lost their constituencies to opposition parties in 2023."
"Their movement therefore takes NOTHING away from the APC. 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," Keyamo stated.
Notable Figures in the ADC Coalition
The ADC unveiling attracted several high-profile political figures, including former Senate President David Mark, former Osun state governor Rauf Aregbesola, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Other attendees included former APC National Chairman John Oyegun, former Sokoto state governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, Dino Melaye, former Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalong, Dele Momodu, Senator Gabriel Suswam, Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party, former Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, and former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.).
Keyamo concluded by urging focus on governance while acknowledging the constitutional right of politicians to associate and assemble as they choose.
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