ADA a ‘pedestrian joke’, Keyamo reacts to Atiku/El-Rufai allege new party

Abdullateef Fowewe

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has dismissed the formation of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) as neither a political coalition nor a merger, calling it a weak attempt to mimic past political successes.

The All Democratic Alliance (ADA), a new political party formed by opposition leaders including Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi, has formally applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration ahead of the 2027 elections.

Dailyeconomy gathered party, backed by the Nigeria National Coalition Group, aims to provide a fresh political platform with the slogan “Justice for All” and features a logo symbolising maize (corn).

ADA’s application includes its manifesto, constitution, and organisational framework, aligning with Nigeria’s constitutional and electoral laws.

However, the move has been met with criticism from Keyamo, who dismissed ADA as a “pedestrian joke,” mocking the coalition’s attempt to form a new party as unnecessary hype and a weak political effort.

In a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Keyamo described the move as a failed effort to replicate the 2013 merger that led to the creation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He accused the promoters of manufacturing undue excitement around the party’s launch, calling it “psychological warfare against Nigerians” and “a feeble bid for mass appeal

Keyamo wrote, “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 a psychological warfare on Nigerians – a weak attempt at mass appeal. No recognised existing political party or parties are 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 that birthed APC in 2013.

“A few individuals exercising their constitutional right to form a new political party cannot be described as a ‘coalition’ or even a ‘merger’. This is not different from several political associations springing up everyday 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.”