The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has declared that the defection of the so-called political “coalition” into the African Democratic Congress (ADC) marks a turning point that significantly strengthens the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Keyamo made the remarks in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, describing the coalition’s public declaration for the ADC as a “clear abandonment” of their former political affiliations, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“By law, you cannot belong to or operate from two political parties at the same time,” Keyamo stated. “In fact, belonging to two political parties is a ground for disqualification in an election.”
He argued that the coalition’s move represents the “formal dismemberment of the PDP,” a party he described as Nigeria’s once-formidable opposition force. According to the minister, internal party struggles have seen many of the PDP’s veteran politicians displaced by younger players, leaving a power vacuum now exploited by defectors.
“That is why the gathering today was a conglomerate of ‘former this’ and ‘former that’ of the PDP,” Keyamo said. “No matter how you look at it, this is just Atiku’s faction of PDP in desperate search for the 2027 Presidential ticket – nothing more, nothing less.”
According to Hobnob News, the minister further revealed that the coalition includes a few disgruntled APC members who either opposed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the last election or lost their constituencies in 2023. Their defection, Keyamo said, only purifies the APC.
“It is actually better for the APC because it is just a case of totally extracting the germ that was eating the kola nut from within,” he stated.
Keyamo also criticized what he described as the coalition’s strategy to use Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, merely for electoral gains without offering him the top ticket.
“If you do not give Peter Obi the presidential ticket, you lose his supporters. It is as simple as that,” he said. “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)?”
In a sharp conclusion, the minister said that when all is said and done, the PDP and Labour Party will emerge weakened, the ADC will have gained “something like a caricature,” and the APC will remain unaffected.
“Since the 2023 elections, the APC has become stronger, whilst the opposition parties have fragmented and become weaker,” Keyamo said.
He called on Nigerians to allow opposition figures to exercise their constitutional right to associate and assemble, even as the APC-led government remains focused on delivering good governance.
