The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), has criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its failure to clearly zone its presidential ticket, alleging that the party is effectively controlled by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a post shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, Keyamo said the opposition party’s reluctance to declare its zoning arrangement mirrors what he described as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) “disastrous” decision ahead of the 2023 general elections.
According to the minister, zoning remains a critical stabilising mechanism in Nigeria’s sensitive political environment and must be clearly articulated by any party with national ambitions.
“The ADC is scared to clearly zone its presidential ticket, like the other major parties (PDP and APC) have done, because the party belongs to one man called Atiku Abubakar,” Keyamo wrote.
He argued that the All Progressives Congress (APC) benefitted from its clear zoning decision in 2023, a move he said contributed to the party’s electoral success, while the PDP continues to grapple with the consequences of its failure to do same.
Keyamo further accused Atiku of attempting to leverage the popularity of former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, to secure electoral advantage, warning that such a strategy could further strain national unity.
“Atiku wants to camouflage with Peter Obi and surreptitiously secure his votes and become President on a flawed template that will damage our fragile unity as a nation,” he stated.
The minister also criticised Obi for aligning with what he described as a politically unsound arrangement, alleging that the former governor was driven by personal ambition.
“And Peter Obi is supporting this contraption for selfish reasons, throwing the entire country under the bus for a mess of pottage called a VP ticket,” Keyamo added.
He expressed sympathy for Obi’s supporters, whom he described as “naive”, claiming they were being misled by experienced politicians and heading towards political disappointment.
“There is no hiding place for the opposition, just like there is no hiding place for the ruling party,” Keyamo said, adding that continued public scrutiny of all political actors was necessary as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
