Keyamo accuses Atiku of fearing APC’s Northern support

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of being apprehensive about the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s support base in northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Keyamo, a senior advocate of Nigeria, made the allegation in a statement titled, “Why Atiku Abubakar Is Particularly Jittery About the Kaduna Flag-off,” in which he criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate’s reported online attacks against the APC ahead of the party’s campaign rally in Kaduna State.

He alleged that some videos circulating online showing the removal of President Bola Tinubu’s campaign posters were staged to create the impression that the President had lost support in the North. Keyamo also dismissed as fake a purported letter alleging that N2.3 trillion had been earmarked for the Kaduna rally, describing it as an attempt to portray the APC as relying on financial inducements to attract supporters.

The minister, however, did not provide evidence in the statement to substantiate his allegations about the videos or the purported letter. He argued that Atiku’s political calculations ahead of the 2027 election had been based largely on securing northern votes, adding that the former vice-president faced challenges in gaining support in the South.

Keyamo cited the 2023 presidential election, claiming that Atiku lost across the North-Central states and all Southern states except Osun State. He alleged that Atiku had initially expected Tinubu to have limited electoral appeal in the North but was now concerned about the APC’s political structures in the region. According to Keyamo, the APC’s presence in northern Nigeria could undermine Atiku’s strategy of relying on the region to secure victory in the next presidential election.

The minister further argued that even a strong showing by Atiku in parts of the North might not be sufficient to secure victory if he failed to make significant gains in the Middle Belt and Southern states. Keyamo also drew a comparison between Atiku and former President Muhammadu Buhari, who secured substantial northern support in the 2015 presidential election.

He argued that Atiku’s political background differed from Buhari’s, while making corruption-related allegations against the former vice-president without presenting supporting evidence in the statement. The comments come amid intensifying political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with parties and their presidential contenders seeking to consolidate support across the country’s geopolitical zones.