2027: Babachir Lawal reveals Peter Obi, Amaechi’s role in new opposition coalition

As Nigeria braces for the 2027 general elections, political alignments are taking shape, and a new opposition coalition is beginning to emerge.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has revealed fresh insights into the coalition’s purpose and the key political players involved.

Contrary to widespread speculation, Lawal emphasized that the coalition is not solely designed to promote the presidential ambition of Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Instead, he explained that it serves as a broad platform for multiple political figures, including Labour Party’s Peter Obi and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi—both of whom are believed to be eyeing the presidency in 2027.

Lawal noted that the coalition’s primary goal is to provide a united front capable of challenging the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and offering Nigerians a credible alternative come 2027.

“Why should it be about Atiku? I know some of the people that I suspect, have presidential ambition that are attending the meetings,” Lawal stated on the coalition and Nigeria’s 2027 general elections

He specifically pointed to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the last election, saying, “Peter Obi is there as a presidential candidate himself, and I can’t see why he would join a coalition to build up a system that will benefit only Atiku.”

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Lawal also named former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who contested and came a “distant second” in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary, as another potential presidential hopeful within the coalition for the Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. “I don’t think Amaechi will waste his time and attend meetings designed to make Atiku a presidential candidate,” Lawal added.

Lawal, who worked actively for Peter Obi’s presidential bid in 2023, emphasized that his involvement in the current merger talks is not to “scheme to give leverage to Atiku.”

He clarified that the overarching goal of the coalition is to establish a robust political platform through a democratic process, where a presidential candidate will emerge based on consensus and internal electoral mechanisms.

“Everyone of them, apart from those of us who have no presidential ambition, everyone of them emphasizes, every time, on the fact that we need to get together and get a strong platform and then let us allow the democratic process within that platform to push out a presidential candidate, any candidate for that matter,” Lawal explained.

He further elaborated that the coalition attracts individuals with diverse political ambitions, ranging from those seeking to contest for House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and governorship positions, to those with presidential aspirations. All these individuals, according to Lawal, are united by the common goal of building a strong platform to contest elections.

Lawal highlighted the planned democratic processes within the coalition, including a national convention to elect new leadership that will then midwife primaries for ward, local, and state executives, and eventually, the congresses to select candidates.

“I don’t see why people keep talking about Atiku. Probably, of course, because he is very active, because he believes that a strong opposition is necessary to confronting a sitting government,” Lawal mused, while reiterating that the final presidential candidate will emerge through a transparent process.

He also dismissed the notion of a pre-arranged “deal” between Peter Obi and Atiku, asserting, “We have heard speculation about Peter Obi and Atiku’s deal, it isn’t possible!” Lawal’s remarks underscore the fluid and competitive nature of political alliances in Nigeria, where various interests and ambitions converge in the run-up to major elections.

(Tribune)