The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has declared that although the All Progressives Congress (APC) is “not a party of saints,” but it remains a more credible alternative to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Keyamo made the clarification on Saturday through a statement shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, where he addressed what he described as a misrepresentation of comments he made nearly a decade ago.
According to the minister, a video clip from a 2017 interview he granted to a blog resurfaced online but was edited in a way that removed the concluding portion of his remarks.
He explained that while he acknowledged the imperfections within the APC at the time, he had also clearly stated that the party represented a significant improvement over the PDP-led administration it succeeded.
“APC may not be a party of saints which is a fact, but it is still far better than where we were coming from,” Keyamo wrote, stressing that the omitted segment of the interview provided important context to his statement.
He maintained that no political organisation anywhere in the world can claim to be made up entirely of flawless individuals, describing such expectations as unrealistic.
Political parties, he argued, are composed of people with varying strengths and weaknesses, and should be judged by their overall performance and direction rather than by isolated shortcomings.
The minister further contended that, despite its challenges, the APC continues to offer Nigeria stronger prospects for reform and development than a return to PDP leadership.
He cautioned against what he termed a regression to the policies and governance style of the past.
Keyamo also used the opportunity to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the president did not align himself with the PDP during its years in power.
He suggested that Tinubu’s political consistency underscored his commitment to progressive ideals.
The statement has since generated debate across social media platforms, with supporters and critics weighing in on the minister’s remarks and the broader comparison between the two major political parties.
Keyamo’s comments come amid heightened political discourse as parties reposition and narratives from previous electoral cycles resurface in the public space.
