By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have exchanged words over zoning, opposition politics and the roles of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi.
In a post on X on Thursday, Keyamo accused the ADC of failing to clearly zone its presidential ticket, alleging that the party was under Atiku’s influence. He warned that ambiguity over zoning could threaten national unity, recalling what he described as a “disastrous” outcome for the PDP in 2023.
Keyamo claimed the ADC was reluctant to declare its zoning position because it “belongs to one man called Atiku Abubakar,” adding that zoning, as adopted by the APC in 2023, was necessary in Nigeria’s sensitive political environment. He also alleged that Atiku was seeking an alliance with Obi to secure votes, a move he criticised as self-serving and divisive.
Responding, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi dismissed Keyamo’s claims, describing his view of zoning as flawed. He noted that the APC itself had previously rejected zoning as incompatible with progressive politics and argued that its presidential primaries had historically been open to candidates from all regions.
Abdullahi also faulted the APC’s Muslim–Muslim ticket, saying it undermined national cohesion. He stressed that the ADC was still building a winning coalition and had not finalised its presidential ticket, adding that the party was not controlled by any single individual.
