Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has dismissed the idea that a political coalition can successfully unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, describing such efforts as “impossible” and “a storm in a teacup.” Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 28, 2025, Keyamo emphasized the strength and resilience of the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure, which he said would withstand any opposition coalition attempts.
Keyamo, who has campaigned for two presidents and is well-versed in Nigeria’s political landscape, argued that the timing and organization of coalition talks are too late and lack the experience required to challenge Tinubu’s entrenched political machinery. He contrasted the current situation with the lengthy and complex merger process that birthed the APC after the 2011 elections, involving extensive negotiations between Tinubu and Muhammadu Buhari.
Reacting to calls by opposition figures such as Labour Party’s Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar-who have hinted at forming a coalition-Keyamo said these plans would not translate into electoral success. He also pointed out that many PDP governors have publicly distanced themselves from coalition talks, with some like former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose calling such efforts “a dead horse” and a “waste of time.”
Keyamo further highlighted that President Tinubu enjoys significant political support beyond his South-West base, including strong backing in the North, which will be crucial in the 2027 elections. He also downplayed the influence of youth-driven movements like the Obidient movement that propelled the Labour Party in 2023, stressing that Nigeria’s complex electoral dynamics require solid party structures rather than personality-based mobilization.
In line with strengthening the APC, Keyamo recently ceded party leadership in Delta State to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori following his defection from the PDP, underscoring the party’s growing dominance ahead of 2027.
While some opposition leaders like El-Rufai maintain confidence that a coalition can win by mobilizing grassroots voters without relying on governors’ support, Keyamo’s position reflects the ruling party’s confidence in its organizational strength and political alliances.
