Keyamo Dismisses ADA’s Ambitions, Bolsters APC Confidence Ahead Of 2027 Elections.
In a robust defence of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has dismissed the newly formed All Democratic Alliance (ADA) as a “pedestrian joke” incapable of replicating the seismic political coalition that birthed the APC in 2013. Keyamo’s remarks, shared via his official X account on Friday, 20 June 2025, come as opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the ADA as a political party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ADA, backed by the Nigerian National Coalition Group (NNCG), has been touted by its supporters as a potential platform to unify opposition forces against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s APC. The application, dated 19 June 2025 and signed by Pro-tem National Chairman Chief Akin Ricketts and National Secretary Abdullahi Musa Elayo, includes the party’s manifesto, constitution, and slogan, “Justice for All.” Notable figures reportedly linked to the initiative include former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and other prominent opposition politicians.
However, Keyamo poured cold water on the ADA’s prospects, arguing that the move is merely a routine application for party registration, not a genuine coalition of established political forces. “This is just a simple application for party registration. There is nothing like a ‘coalition’ here,” he stated, accusing the ADA’s promoters of engaging in “psychological warfare” to create unwarranted hype. “No recognised existing political party is part of this. 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,” he added.
The APC’s formation in 2013 was a landmark event in Nigerian politics, resulting from a merger of major opposition parties, including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This alliance, which presented Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate, defeated the PDP in the 2015 elections, marking the first peaceful transfer of power to an opposition party in Nigeria’s history.
Keyamo’s remarks reflect the APC’s confidence in its political dominance, bolstered by recent defections from opposition parties, including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno. President Tinubu has projected further defections, describing the realignment as a natural evolution of Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
In contrast, the ADA’s emergence has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters view it as a bold step to challenge the APC’s grip on power, with the NNCG framing it as a movement to restore justice and unity. However, critics within the opposition, including some African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaders, have expressed scepticism about the ADA’s viability, citing internal divisions and the absence of a clear coalition structure.
Demola Olarenwaju, an aide to Atiku Abubakar, defended the ADA’s registration efforts, lambasting media outlets and the APC for misrepresenting the initiative. He clarified that the ADA is a distinct entity, not a takeover of the ADC, and urged Nigerians to focus on the coalition’s broader goal of unseating the APC.
Political analysts suggest that the ADA’s success will hinge on its ability to unite fragmented opposition parties and build a grassroots structure capable of challenging the APC’s formidable machinery. “The APC’s 2013 coalition was a masterclass in strategic alliances. The ADA, as it stands, is a fledgling effort that lacks the depth and cohesion of that historic merger,” said Dr. Chidi Amadi, a Lagos-based political commentator.
As the 2027 elections loom, Keyamo’s dismissal of the ADA underscores the APC’s determination to maintain its stronghold. With the party intensifying efforts to consolidate power in southern Nigeria and counter opposition narratives, the political landscape promises to be fiercely contested. For now, the ADA’s promoters face an uphill battle to prove their detractors wrong and forge a coalition capable of reshaping Nigeria’s future.