'Atiku, Obi Deal Not Yet Possible,' Key Coalition Member Babachir Lawal Speaks
- A former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has shed light on the dynamics within the nascent opposition coalition
- In an interview with Nigerian Tribune, Lawal asserted that the coalition is not solely focused on Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition
- The ex-government official mentioned Peter Obi, saying he does not see why the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election would join a coalition to build up a system that will solely benefit Atiku
FCT, Abuja - Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), has denied that Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi reached an agreement on a power-sharing deal for the 2027 presidential race.
Legit.ng reports that the speculation emerged following a report that Atiku had offered Obi the vice-presidential slot on a joint ticket for the 2027 elections, allegedly committing to serve only one term.
Source: Facebook
2027 election: Coalition eyes national convention
Atiku is a former vice-president and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election.
The report claimed this proposal was first discussed during a private meeting between the two men earlier in 2025 in the United Kingdom (UK).
But Lawal, a member of the contact and mobilisation and finance committees of the alliance said to be led by Alhaji Atiku, disclosed that the coalition will soon hold its national convention.
Lawal spoke in an interview with Nigerian Tribune published on Sunday, May 25.
He said:
"We will do a national convention to elect new tested and trusted leadership who will midwife the primary to elect ward executive, local and state executive and then of course, those executive will also midwife the congresses when the time is ripe. So, I don’t see why people keep talking about Atiku. Probably, of course, because he (Atiku) is very active because he believes that a strong opposition is necessary to confronting a sitting government. He believes so, just like so many others. So, we wait and see.
"When those processes are ripe, we wait and see who will emerge as the presidential candidate of the coalition because everyone agrees that is the way to go. That there can only be one presidential candidate under a strong platform.
"We have heard speculation about Peter Obi and Atiku’s deal, it isn’t possible."
Source: Twitter
Furthermore, Lawal explained that Atiku and Obi cannot make a deal due to the fact that the former vice-president is not yet the presidential candidate.
He said:
"It is after the convention and somebody wins and the party can sit down and begins to say, who do we make a vice-president? What formidable pair will make us win the election? So, on what basis are they pairing up? People are just speculating about it. That’s not in this coalition we are doing. We will wait for the convention to throw up, maybe among the three, others might join soon when the platform is steady, people are going to join."
'Coalition may not be truly pro-masses' - Expert
Dr Sulaimon Adigun Muse, a senior lecturer in the department of political science education, Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), in an interview with Legit.ng, explained that the emerging coalition members against President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) prioritise their own interests over the national yearnings.
Muse, the president of the Global Academy of Political Entrepreneurship and Leadership (GAPEL), said:
"They (the coalition actors) are only concerned about their own political survival, which alignment and re-alignment is all about. Because you have to look for greener pasture where you can flourish politically."
2027 election: Obidients 'join ADC'
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Ralph Nwosu, national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said some staunch supporters of Obi have already collapsed their structures into the party.
According to the opposition leader, the list of "patriots" who have indicated interest in 'rescuing Nigeria' is not limited to Atiku, Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna state.
Nwosu disclosed that Obidients in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Kwara have already agreed to team up with the ADC ahead of the 2027 election.
Source: Legit.ng
