Follow Us on Google
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has claimed that he personally persuaded Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), despite their concerns about Atiku Abubakar’s involvement in the opposition coalition.
Lawal made the disclosure on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday while recounting the negotiations that preceded the entry of Obi and Kwankwaso into the ADC ahead of the party’s presidential primary.
According to him, Obi was initially reluctant to join the ADC until he intervened and convinced the former Anambra State governor to commit to the party.
“I attended every meeting of the ADC, and at one time, Peter Obi was playing in and out. I was the one who finally dragged Peter into the ADC and committed him to joining the ADC,” Lawal said.
He also disclosed that Kwankwaso had reservations about joining the coalition because of Atiku’s presence, claiming that the former Kano State governor feared the former vice president’s involvement would affect the party’s chances.
“We also convinced Kwankwaso to join the ADC, but he was always afraid that with Atiku Abubakar there, nothing good would ever come out of the ADC,” he said.
Lawal said Obi had similar concerns, particularly over the proposed presidential primary. He explained that Obi favoured a consensus arrangement because he believed a contested primary could give an advantage to candidates with greater financial resources and political influence.
According to the former SGF, efforts to produce a consensus candidate eventually failed, deepening disagreements within the coalition and contributing to the departure of Obi and Kwankwaso from the ADC.
He alleged that both politicians later became convinced that the primary process was being manipulated in favour of Atiku, who eventually emerged as the ADC presidential candidate.
Lawal, who had previously been an ally of Atiku, left the ADC after the primary and subsequently alleged that the exercise was massively rigged.
He has since joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the platform backing Obi and Kwankwaso as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates respectively for the 2027 election.
His account has brought fresh attention to the negotiations, disagreements and political calculations that shaped the opposition coalition ahead of the election.
