Defection to ADC, A Win For APC – Festus Keyamo

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reacted to the coalition of the African Democratic Congress, as he said it will only strengthen the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Keyamo, in a post shared via his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, said the movement has effectively weakened the opposition, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party.

“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,” he wrote.

Citing legal provisions, the minister said the defectors had essentially abandoned their former political platforms.

“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,” he said, adding that belonging to two parties will lead to disqualification in election.

Keyamo further argued that the coalition represents what he called a “formal dismemberment of the PDP,” which he described as “hitherto Nigeria’s strongest opposition party.”

He claimed that the PDP’s internal crisis had led to the displacement of its old guard, paving the way for Atiku Abubakar’s loyalists to take control.

“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.

“That is why the gathering today was a conglomerate of ‘former this’ and ‘former that’ of the PDP,” he said.

Keyamo dismissed the gathering as, “just Atiku’s faction of the PDP in desperate search for the 2027 presidential ticket — nothing more, nothing less.”

He also commented on the presence of some APC members in the new coalition, saying their defection posed no threat to the ruling party.

“The other addition to the so-called ‘coalition’ is a sprinkling of APC members who actually worked against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the last election.

“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.

Addressing the role of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the emerging alliance, Keyamo accused the PDP bloc of attempting to exploit Obi’s support base.

“The person whom the old, cunning guards want to take for a ride in all of this is Peter Obi.

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

He questioned the logic of making Obi a running mate, despite his strong regional performance in the last election.

He said, “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)?”

Keyamo concluded by insisting that the defection weakens the opposition while leaving the APC intact.

“When the dust settles, you will discover that the PDP and the Labour Party have lost something, the ADC has only gained something like a caricature, but the APC has lost absolutely nothing.

“Since the 2023 elections, the APC has become stronger, whilst the opposition parties have been fragmented and have become weaker,” he added.

The minister argued that since 2023, several governors, senators, and House of Representatives members had joined the APC, compared to only a small handful who had left.

He questioned which group any serious political movement would prefer to have in its ranks.

Keyamo wrapped up his remarks by stating, “For now, let us face governance and allow them exercise their constitutional right to associate and assemble.”