KEYAMO ACCUSES ATIKU OF FEARING APC’S GROWING NORTHERN SUPPORT AHEAD OF 2027 ELECTION

By NaijaParrot | October 24, 2026

 Kaduna, Nigeria | Politics 

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of being concerned about the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s political strength in northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

 Keyamo made the allegation while responding to Atiku’s reported criticism of the APC’s campaign activities in Kaduna State, where the ruling party held a presidential campaign rally. In a statement titled “Why Atiku Abubakar Is Particularly Jittery About the Kaduna Flag-off,” the minister argued that the former vice-president was worried that the APC’s growing political structures in the North could undermine his electoral strategy. 

 The comments add to the intensifying exchange between the ruling party and opposition figures as political activities gather momentum ahead of the next general election.

According to Keyamo, Atiku’s reported political strategy relies heavily on securing substantial support from northern Nigeria. The minister argued that the former vice-president would face a difficult electoral contest if he failed to make significant gains in the South and the Middle Belt. 

 also compared Atiku’s political calculations with those of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who secured considerable support in northern Nigeria during the 2015 presidential election. He maintained that Atiku’s political circumstances differed from Buhari’s and argued that the former vice-president could not assume that northern votes alone would guarantee victory in 2027. 

 These remarks represent Keyamo’s assessment of the emerging political contest, rather than an established conclusion about either candidate’s electoral prospects. 

 Keyamo also accused Atiku and his political camp of attempting to create the impression that President Bola Tinubu had lost support in northern Nigeria. He alleged that videos showing the removal of Tinubu’s campaign posters were staged to suggest widespread opposition to the President in the region. The minister further dismissed as fake a purported letter claiming that ₦2.3 trillion had been earmarked for the Kaduna rally. 

 According to Keyamo, the circulation of such material was intended to portray the APC as relying on financial inducements to attract supporters. However, the minister did not provide publicly verifiable evidence in the statement establishing that Atiku or the ADC organised the alleged activities. The accusations therefore remain claims attributed to Keyamo. 

 In making his argument, Keyamo referred to the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, claiming that Atiku lost across the North-Central states and all southern states except Osun State. He used the results to argue that Atiku would need support beyond his northern political base to mount a successful presidential campaign. 

 The minister also suggested that the APC’s political structures across northern states could affect the opposition’s calculations ahead of the next election. Nevertheless, the 2023 election results do not independently establish how voters will behave in 2027. The next contest will be shaped by the candidates, campaigns, political alliances and circumstances prevailing at the time. 

 The exchange between Keyamo and Atiku comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 general election. Atiku, a former vice-president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), remains a prominent opposition figure challenging the Tinubu administration. Keyamo, meanwhile, has continued to defend the APC and criticise opposition figures over their statements and campaign strategies. 

 The latest dispute highlights the importance both sides attach to northern Nigeria, a region with substantial electoral influence because of its population and distribution of voters across several states. As political parties prepare for the election, claims about regional support, campaign spending and alleged misinformation are likely to remain subjects of public debate.  

For now, Keyamo’s assertion that Atiku is concerned about the APC’s northern support remains the minister’s political interpretation. Neither the allegation nor the competing parties’ claims about future voter behaviour should be treated as a confirmed prediction of the 2027 election outcome. 

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