Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has urged Nigerians not to support the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 general election, insisting that the former Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate is not the right person to lead the country.
Lawal made the remarks while speaking on recent political developments and the race toward the 2027 presidential election. According to him, supporting Atiku would not provide the kind of leadership needed to address Nigeria’s economic, security and governance challenges.
The former SGF, who recently distanced himself from the African Democratic Congress after Atiku emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, maintained that the opposition must present a candidate capable of defeating the ruling All Progressives Congress if it hopes to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Lawal argued that Atiku’s emergence as the ADC candidate would weaken the opposition’s chances at the polls. He also alleged that the party’s presidential primary was manipulated in favour of the former vice president, a claim that has generated debate within the opposition camp.
According to him, Nigerians should resist voting based on familiarity or political sentiment and instead support candidates with the capacity to deliver meaningful reforms and unite the country.
The former SGF further urged opposition parties to build a broad coalition around what he described as a credible and widely acceptable candidate capable of challenging the ruling party in the next presidential election.
However, Atiku’s camp rejected Lawal’s comments, describing them as unfounded and politically motivated. In a statement issued by his media team, the former vice president’s camp dismissed allegations that the ADC presidential primary was manipulated, insisting that Lawal had failed to provide credible evidence to support his claims.
The Atiku camp also maintained that the former vice president remains one of the country’s most experienced political leaders and possesses the credentials needed to lead Nigeria, accusing Lawal of allowing personal disappointment to influence his public comments.
The exchange highlights growing divisions within opposition political circles as consultations and realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general election. Analysts say disagreements over party leadership, candidate selection and coalition-building are likely to shape the political landscape in the months leading to the polls.
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