Worried Keyamo Dismisses Proposed Coalition’s ‘All Democratic Alliance’ as Mere Hype

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has downplayed the recent announcement of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), describing the move as a routine application for party registration and not a genuine political coalition as claimed by its promoters.

In a dismissive statement on Friday, Keyamo criticised the formation as “an unnecessary hype” and a “psychological warfare on Nigerians,” dismissing comparisons between the ADA and the historic 2013 merger that led to the birth of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“There is nothing like a ‘coalition’ here,” Keyamo stated. “It is just a simple application for party registration. 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.”

He added that the initiative, spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Former Governors of Rivers State and Kaduna State, Rotimi Amechi, Nasir El-Rufai, convener of the League of Northern Democrats, Dr. Umar Ardo and others, should not be mistaken for a merger or a coalition of established parties.

“This is not different from several political associations springing up every day for the same purpose,” he said. “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.”

On Friday, an application letter dated 19th of June 2025 was stamped received by INEC on 20 June 2025 after the Nigeria National Coalition Group, NNCG, applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seeking the registration of a new political party with the name All Democratic Alliance, ADA.

The letter signed by the association’s Protem National Chairman, Chief Akin A. Rickets, read, “We respectfully write to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, requesting the registration of our association, the All Democratic Alliance, ADA, as a political party.

“This is a sequel to the decision taken by the Nigerian National Coalition Group to sponsor our association for full registration.

“The name of the party shall be All Democratic Alliance with ADA as our acronym and ‘Justice for All’ as our slogan.

“The National Secretariat of the party is, as stated at the bottom of the association’s letterhead, used in this application.

“We have also herewith attached our logo, describing in detail the symbolism of our party colours and their configuration, and the corn (Maize).

“We have further attached our manifesto encompassing details of our party ideology, and our constitution providing the legal framework that defines our identity, structures and organization, regulates our affairs and guides our actions in alignment with Section 40 and 222 of the Constitution, Section 75 of the Electoral Act (2022) and global democratic principles and objectives.

“Please find attached the following documents: our party flag depicting our name, acronym and slogan, manifesto, constitution and minutes of meeting.

“While we eagerly await further action from the commission on the next step forward towards attaining our desired goal, please accept the consideration of our highest respect. Thank you yours most sincerely; Chief Akin A. Rickets, Protem National Chairman.”