Abuja, June 21, 2025 – Aviation Minister and prominent APC spokesperson, Festus Keyamo, has debunked the notion that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El‑Rufai are forming a coalition through the registration of a new party known as the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
Keyamo characterized the move as “nothing more than an application for party registration” submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, urging Nigerians not to conflate it with an actual coalition. Speaking on X (formerly Twitter), he described the surrounding media hype as psychological warfare and dismissed talk of a merger as a “pedestrian joke” that pales in comparison to the historic unification that birthed the APC in 2013 .
He further criticized the leaders of the initiative for seeking mass attention through exaggerated narratives, calling the effort a weak attempt at gaining traction. According to Keyamo, no existing political parties have joined the registration, making claims of a unified opposition front premature and unfounded .
Describing the registration move as an “anti‑climax” after much fanfare, Keyamo emphasized that individual citizens invoking their constitutional rights to form a new party do not qualify their group as a coalition or merger .
Analysts suggest Keyamo’s comments are consistent with his reputation as a fierce defender of the ruling party, coming amid growing speculation around opposition unity ahead of the 2027 elections .
As the application process proceeds at INEC, attention now turns to whether the ADA will attract formal party endorsements or remain a platform for political activists aligned with opposition figures.
