By Ado Oyeyemi
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has claimed that he played a key role in bringing former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, into the African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Lawal made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, while recounting the formation of the opposition coalition and the political negotiations that preceded the realignment.
He said he was among the founding members of the ADC coalition established in July 2025, which later produced former Senate President David Mark as the party’s national chairman.
According to Lawal, he attended virtually all the meetings of the coalition and was instrumental in persuading Obi to commit to the ADC.
He said, “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 also claimed that he persuaded Kwankwaso to join the ADC, although he said the former Kano governor had reservations about the presence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the party.
“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.
The former SGF later fell out with the ADC and resigned from the party in June 2026 after Atiku emerged as its presidential candidate.
Lawal had alleged that the party’s presidential primary was manipulated in favour of Atiku, a claim disputed by Atiku’s camp.
His departure from the ADC was followed by his recent defection to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, where he declared support for the Peter Obi-Kwankwaso ticket ahead of the 2027 election.
The former SGF was formally received into the NDC in Abuja on September 22 and was given a role in coordinating the party’s political activities and campaigns in the North-East and North-Central zones.
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Lawal’s latest political move comes amid continuing realignments among opposition politicians and parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
