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Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has downplayed the recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, describing it as irrelevant.
In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, May 25, Lawal called the move “immaterial” and stressed that the coalition of opposition leaders he is part of is focused exclusively on winning the Nigerian electorate, rather than courting political officeholders.
On May 22, all 22 APC governors publicly backed President Tinubu as the party’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 election. However, Lawal, a key figure in the opposition coalition working to unseat the APC, dismissed the significance of the endorsement.
“Let the governors continue to defect, we don’t care,” he said. “Even if all 36 state governors and the FCT were in APC, it would still be immaterial. They only have 37 votes—maybe add their families, you might get 1,000 votes. But the voter is our target, and the voter is the victim of the system we are fighting against.”
Lawal emphasized that the coalition’s strategy is to engage directly with Nigerian citizens, especially those adversely affected by the current administration. He revealed that efforts are underway to build a credible alternative to the ruling party, and the coalition is operating with deliberate caution to safeguard its plans.
“We don’t take photographs or minutes of meetings. We take time to ensure our strategies don’t leak,” he explained.
The former SGF also noted that his presence in Abuja, despite the planting season when he would ordinarily be on his farm, shows his dedication. “I’d be an idiot if I abandoned my most important vocation to just take coffee and snacks,” he joked. “Those who say we aren’t serious don’t understand who we are, because they don’t know themselves.”
Recent reports indicate the coalition is considering adopting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform for the 2027 elections. However, this plan faces uncertainty following Peter Obi’s announcement on Saturday, May 24, that he will contest the next presidential election under the Labour Party, which he represented in 2023.
Lawal did not directly comment on Obi’s decision but reaffirmed the coalition’s confidence and resolve. “At the appropriate time, we will go public with what we are doing,” he said.
