1. Call for Party Unity:
Keyamo urges all APC members to prioritize Tinubu’s re-election, even if it conflicts with their personal ambitions or interests. This suggests a party-wide effort to discourage internal dissent and promote a unified front heading into the next election cycle.
2. Justification: Continuity of Reforms
He frames Tinubu’s second term as essential to sustaining ongoing economic reforms. In his view:
- Any disruption in leadership could halt or reverse progress.
- Past leadership changes have led to inconsistent or “inchoate” policies.
3. Warning of a “Tragic” Disruption:
Keyamo presents a potential change in administration as dangerous for Nigeria’s economic stability, essentially framing 2027 as a referendum on continuity vs. disruption.
4. Strategic Messaging:
- This rhetoric aligns closely with incumbency strategy—emphasizing stability, warning of regression, and rallying the party base early.
- It also serves to pre-empt criticisms of current economic hardships by presenting reforms as long-term investments.
Contrasting Voices:
This position stands in direct contrast to voices like Hakeem Baba-Ahmed’s, who argue that:
- The current leadership is not producing effective results.
- A change, not continuity, is what Nigeria needs.
Implications:
Keyamo’s statement suggests that the APC is preparing for early consolidation ahead of 2027. However, the sharp divide between establishment narratives and critical technocrats signals growing tension over whether continuity is genuinely beneficial—or politically self-serving.
