Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of being worried about the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s growing support in northern Nigeria ahead of the party’s presidential campaign rally in Kaduna State.
Keyamo, in a statement, argued that Atiku’s recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu and the APC was driven by concerns that the ruling party could undermine his chances of securing northern votes in the 2027 presidential election.
The minister alleged that some online videos showing people removing Tinubu’s campaign posters were deliberately staged to create the impression that the President had lost support in the region.
He also questioned the authenticity of a purported letter claiming that ₦2.3 trillion had been earmarked for the Kaduna rally, describing it as disinformation intended to portray the APC’s campaign as being driven by excessive spending.
Keyamo did not provide evidence in the statement to substantiate his allegations about the videos or the purported letter.
According to the minister, Atiku had been relying heavily on northern votes to strengthen his presidential ambition, while expecting Tinubu to face stronger competition in parts of the South.
He argued that the APC’s political structures across the North had complicated that strategy, making the region a more competitive battleground ahead of the next election.
Keyamo also pointed to the 2023 presidential election, claiming that Atiku’s performance in the Middle Belt and southern states demonstrated the difficulty he could face if he failed to secure a substantial share of votes outside his traditional political base.
The minister further alleged that Atiku had supported southern presidential candidates in the previous election in an attempt to divide votes in the South. He offered no evidence in the statement to support the claim.
Keyamo maintained that the outcome of the 2027 election would depend not only on northern voting patterns but also on the APC’s performance in the Middle Belt and southern Nigeria.
He also questioned Atiku’s comparison with former President Muhammadu Buhari, who secured significant northern support during his successful 2015 presidential campaign.
In a strongly worded conclusion, Keyamo argued that Atiku could not simply replicate Buhari’s electoral success, citing what he described as differences in their political backgrounds and public standing.
The exchange comes as political parties and their leading figures intensify preparations for the 2027 general election, with campaign activities and competing claims about regional support increasingly shaping the political conversation.
Keyamo’s comments represent the APC side of the political debate. His allegations about Atiku’s motives, campaign tactics and electoral calculations were not independently established in the statement, and no response from Atiku was included.
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