Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has downplayed the emergence of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), describing the newly proposed political platform as an overhyped and unimpressive attempt at relevance.
In a post on his official X handle on Friday, Keyamo dismissed the idea that ADA represents a true coalition or political merger, stating that it is merely a group of individuals exercising their constitutional right to form a party — not a seismic alliance akin to what led to the creation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013.
His comment comes in reaction to a move by the Nigerian National Coalition Group (NNCG) to register the ADA as a political party ahead of the 2027 elections. The coalition, reportedly backed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai, submitted an application to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on June 19. The application was co-signed by ADA’s National Chairman, Akin Ricketts, and pro tem National Secretary, Abdullahi Musa Elayo.
Keyamo, however, said the effort lacks the legitimacy or impact to be considered a genuine coalition.
“This is just a simple application for party registration. There is nothing like a ‘coalition’ here,” he wrote.
Describing the move as “psychological warfare” and a “weak attempt at mass appeal,” the minister added, “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 further stated, “No recognized existing political party is part of this. A few individuals exercising their constitutional right to form a new political party cannot be described as a ‘coalition’ or even a ‘merger.’”
Concluding his remarks, Keyamo said the development is a “disappointing anti-climax” compared to the media buzz that preceded it, insisting that many such political associations spring up regularly without making significant impact.
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