Festus Keyamo, SAN, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has characterised the new opposition group, the All Democratic Alliance, as a futile attempt to recreate the 2013 alliance that gave rise to the All Progressive Congress.
On Friday, Keyamo mocked the move in a post on his official X account (previously Twitter), calling it a “pedestrian joke”.
“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,” Keyamo wrote.
The proposed party, led by the National Opposition Coalition Group, includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and Umar Ardo, a former aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and League of Northern Democrats convener, among others.
The group requested registration as a political party with the Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday, which was formally confirmed by the commission on Friday.
However, Keyamo dismissed the effort as an overblown political spectacle ahead of the 2027 elections.
The minister added, “This is just a simple application for party registration. There is nothing like a ‘coalition’ here.
“It is an unnecessary hype the promoters have been struggling to create all along; it is just psychological warfare on Nigerians, a weak attempt at mass appeal.”
He further opined that no officially recognised political parties were involved in the registration effort, insisting it amounted to little more than a private initiative.
“This is not different from several political associations springing up every day for the same purpose.
“After all the razzmatazz, it boils down to the fact that a new political party is just attempting registration by a few Nigerians, it is a disappointing anti-climax to all the preceding pomp and pageantry,” Keyamo concluded.
