The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has launched a scathing assessment of the opposition landscape, arguing that the political rivalry between former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi is driven primarily by personal ego and mutual bitterness rather than genuine opposition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a post on his X handle on Thursday, Keyamo said he reached the conclusion after observing both opposition figures deliver separate “broadcasts” in the wake of President Tinubu’s Independence Day address. He identified Atiku as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Obi as the flagbearer of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Keyamo stated that President Tinubu was not the central issue between the two leaders. Instead, he claimed a “huge ego battle” exists between Atiku and Obi, compounded by what he described as a “subdued bitterness” between them and their respective supporters. Despite efforts to bring both politicians together politically, Keyamo argued they had been unable to work as a united force. He alleged that each man believes he has something to prove to the other and is engaged in a contest over who should be regarded as the leading opposition figure in the country. He further claimed that both camps are seeking to establish who represents the “real opposition” to the ruling party and who will emerge as the recognised second-place political force by January 16, 2027.
Keyamo’s remarks add a new dimension to the ongoing debate about the state of Nigeria’s opposition. His suggestion that the primary contest is between Atiku and Obi, rather than between the opposition and the ruling party, raises questions about the ability of the opposition to present a united front ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The submission also comes amid a history of frosty relations between the two camps. Keyamo and the ADC have previously clashed over zoning arrangements and opposition politics, with the minister accusing Atiku of attempting to “camouflage with Peter Obi” to secure votes.
As of press time, neither Atiku Abubakar nor Peter Obi had issued a direct response to Keyamo’s latest remarks. However, the post is likely to intensify the already heated debate over the direction of Nigeria’s opposition politics in the lead-up to the next general election.