The Federal Government has dismissed speculations that a potential alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi could unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
The government said this through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during a political current affairs show on Sunday, where he described the move as “an unfruitful adventure.”
Keyamo, while analyzing the emerging political alignments ahead of the next presidential contest, stated that Nigerians were already familiar with the tactics of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and would not be swayed by what he described as outdated strategies.
He said, “They know us very well, and we also know them very well. We are not strangers to each other. Some of these tactics they are using are what I call 419 tactics. These tactics have expired.”
Keyamo further said the ADC plans were deceptive political methods which would be successful in the long run.
The minister did not mince words in criticising one of the key opposition figures, accusing him of flaunting wealth while claiming to champion the cause of the common man.
He said, “One of them is busy disgracing wealth every day, putting 500 cars in his garage and telling Nigerians he wants to rescue them.”
Keyamo argued that the real question Nigerians should be asking is whether the Tinubu administration is getting the fundamentals of the economy right.
According to him, the answer is a “resounding yes.”
He cited steady foreign reserves, rising government revenue, and a stabilising naira as signs of economic recovery.
“These are indices of a healthy economy. It is the trickle-down effect that will finally free up spaces for jobs and put money in the pockets of Nigerians,” he said
The minister also dismissed the opposition’s focus on inflation and commodity prices, describing them as superficial and emotional tactics.
“They are using the prices of food items like yams to paint a grim picture, but they ignore the broader economic improvements,” he said.
He stressed a recent comment by President Tinubu, who described the opposition as “a coalition of confused people.”
He further emphasized that the ruling party welcomes the challenge, as it helps it stay focused and accountable, but insisted the numbers did not favour the opposition.
“The idea that combining Peter Obi and Atiku’s figures will defeat our 8.4 million votes in 2023 – that alliance will not work,” he said confidently.
He explained that three key demographic factors helped Obi in 2023, stating them as religious identity, regional loyalty from the South-East, and the youth-driven “Obidient” movement. According to Keyamo, two of those three support bases would collapse if Obi runs as a vice-presidential candidate in 2027.
“If Obi is made a deputy, the Christian demography will pull out and become apolitical.
“Besides, the President’s wife is a pastor, and that appeals to Christian voters too. That will neutralise any faith-based political calculation,” he said.
Keyamo also predicted that the South-East, which largely backed Obi in 2023, would abandon him if Atiku becomes the presidential candidate.
“These parties cannot campaign for an 80-year-old Muslim president. The youth won’t follow them,” he opined.
The Punch
