By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo has said the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC by the National Opposition Coalition Group (NOCG) is not different from several political associations springing up everyday for the same purpose.
Keyamo said this in response to the application to INEC for registration of ADA as a political party in the country by NOGC on Friday.
ADA was being sponsored by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna governor, Nasir-El- Rufai and other members of the NOCG to remove the ruling All Progressives Congress from power in 2027.
But Keyamo, in a short post on his X handle accused the members of coalition of falling short of creating a grand coalition of political parties with power to displace the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in 2027.
The Minister also accused the promoters of the party of playing psychological warfare on Nigerians by creating an unnecessary hype about the coalition.
He described ADA as as a pedestrian joke and a weak attempt to recreate the coalition that gave birth to the ruling APC.
Keyamo said, “This is just a simple application for party registration. There is nothing like a ‘coalition’ here. It is an unnecessary hype the promoters have been struggling to create all along; it is just a psychological warfare on Nigerians – a weak attempt at mass appeal.
“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 that birthed APC in 2013.
“A few individuals exercising their constitutional right to form a new political party cannot be described as a ‘coalition’ or even a ‘merger’. This is not different from several political associations springing up everyday for the same purpose.
“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.”
NOCG had in its application submitted to INEC sought to be registered as All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
The association’s letter dated June 19 was received and acknowledged by INEC on June 20.
The application letter was jointly signed by the association’s Protem National Chairman, Chief Akin Ricketts, and the Protem National Secretary, Abdullahi Musa Elayo.
The group said that the decision to apply for its registration as political party was approved at its New Platform Committee meeting held on June 19.
“We respectfully write to the INEC requesting the registration of our association, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), as a political party.
“This is 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 details the symbolism of our party colours and their configuration and the corn (maize).
“We have further attached our manifesto, encapsulating details of our party ideology, and our constitution providing the legal framework that defines our identity, structures our organisation, regulates our affairs,” the letter stated.
It added that the constitution would also guide the actions of the proposed party, in alignment with Sections 40 and 222 of the Constitution, Section 75 of the Electoral Act (2022) and global democratic principles and objectives.
“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,” the letter added.
