Keyamo Accuses Atiku of Breaking the Law Over Use of Coat of Arms in PDP Resignation Letter

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of violating Nigerian law by using the country’s official Coat of Arms in his resignation letter from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The letter, which was addressed to the chairman of his local ward in Adamawa State, was made public in early July and has since generated widespread reactions.

According to Keyamo, the inclusion of the Nigerian Coat of Arms in a political document by someone who is no longer a serving public official constitutes a breach of Section 6 of the Flag and Coat of Arms Act, Cap F30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The law, he argued, prohibits the unauthorized use of the national emblem and reserves its display for official government communication or sanctioned purposes. He described Atiku’s action as a serious infraction that could be misinterpreted by the public as an endorsement or an official communication from the federal government.

Beyond the legal argument, Keyamo also criticized the timing of Atiku’s resignation.

The letter was submitted shortly after the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a period during which the country was in mourning. Keyamo labeled the move as insensitive and politically calculated, suggesting that Atiku’s intent was to shift public focus away from national grief and toward his own political narrative.

He described the resignation as a self-serving act masked as a matter of principle.

Keyamo further stated that the use of the national Coat of Arms in this context was not only unlawful but morally questionable. He said it could set a dangerous precedent if left unchallenged, as others might begin to exploit national symbols to give political communications an air of official authority.

He called on relevant authorities to take the matter seriously, stressing the importance of protecting the dignity and legal integrity of national emblems.

While Atiku’s camp has not formally responded to the allegations, the debate has reignited broader conversations around the limits of symbolic authority in Nigerian politics.

Critics of Atiku’s move argue that public figures must exercise restraint and show respect for institutional symbols, especially when those symbols are deeply tied to national identity and governance.

The controversy adds another layer to the long-standing political rivalry between both men and reflects ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s political class as figures realign ahead of future elections.

Keyamo’s comments have drawn attention not only to the legal implications of Atiku’s actions but also to the political undercurrents shaping discourse in the country’s power circles.