Festus Keyamo Rebukes Opposition Leaders Over ADC Leadership Protest in Abuja

Minister Festus Keyamo accuses Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar of 'blackmail' following an Abuja protest over ADC leadership. Read the full exchange.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 10:09 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Naija News

Minister Criticizes "Save Our Democracy" Protest

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has launched a verbal offensive against a coalition of high profile opposition leaders following their demonstration in Abuja on Wednesday. The protest, titled "Save Our Democracy," drew national attention as it featured a rare gathering of former presidential candidates and governors. Keyamo, however, characterized the event as a calculated effort to manipulate public sentiment and exert undue pressure on the nation’s electoral and judicial institutions over an internal party dispute.

High Profile Coalition Joins ADC Faction

The demonstration saw an unprecedented lineup of opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP. They were joined by prominent figures such as Rauf Aregbesola, Rotimi Amaechi, and Aminu Tambuwal. The leaders marched in support of the African Democratic Congress, specifically a faction led by former Senate President David Mark. The group accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of undermining democratic integrity by de-recognizing the party’s current leadership structure.

Questioning Electoral Legitimacy

In a pointed response shared on social media, Keyamo questioned the disproportionate focus on a single faction of one political party. He noted that there are 21 registered political parties in Nigeria and expressed skepticism that the survival of the nation's democracy hinged on the recognition of one specific leadership group. Keyamo further mocked the electoral record of the faction in question, pointing out that it failed to secure a single council seat during the recently concluded elections in the Federal Capital Territory, suggesting the group lacks the popular mandate they claim to defend.