Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has dismissed the newly unveiled opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as nothing more than a rebranded faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) orchestrated by Atiku Abubakar to launch another presidential bid in 2027.

Taking to his verified X account (formerly Twitter), Keyamo said the coalition consists mostly of disgruntled PDP members who have lost political relevance and are now attempting to regroup under a new banner.

“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,” Keyamo wrote.
“The emergence of ADC as presently constituted marks the formal dismemberment of the PDP, hitherto Nigeria’s strongest opposition party.”

The minister described the coalition gathering as filled with “former this” and “former that” from the PDP, accusing former Vice President Atiku of using the platform to maintain his presidential ambitions.

“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,” he said.

Keyamo downplayed the impact of any former APC members present at the coalition meeting, claiming they had either opposed President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election or failed to deliver their constituencies.

“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,” he said.

He also issued a veiled warning to Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, suggesting he may be exploited for his electoral base without being handed the coalition’s presidential ticket.

“They want his votes, but don’t want to give him their presidential ticket, because this is Atiku’s show simpliciter,” Keyamo stated.

He concluded that the opposition coalition has further weakened both the PDP and Labour Party, asserting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains solid and unaffected by the realignment.