I have no regrets supporting Peter Obi in 2023 despite being in APC—-Babachir Lawal, Ex Secretary To The Government Of The Federation

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Babachir Lawal, has said he has no regrets supporting Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, even though he remains a member of the ruling party.

In a recent interview, Lawal addressed rising questions about the strength and prospects of a growing opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He clarified that his decision to back Obi was rooted in principle and a reaction to the exclusionary politics he observed within his own party.

On the issue of opposition defections to the APC, Lawal acknowledged that political dynamics are often misunderstood from outside.

“If you aren’t in a room, you won’t be able to know what is happening in a room. So, from outside, you begin to conjure all manner of ideas… I can tell you that anybody is free to comment. It is a democracy; nobody can ever say you can’t vote out an elected president,” he said.

Despite being a farmer, Lawal stated that he remains actively involved in the coalition’s activities.

“I would be an idiot if I leave my most important vocation to take coffee and snacks,” he remarked, highlighting his ongoing commitment to the coalition’s objectives.

He was clear that the coalition is not built solely around Atiku’s ambitions.

Citing the involvement of other key figures such as Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi, he said, “I don’t see why Amaechi will waste his time and attend meetings designed to make Atiku a presidential candidate.”

According to Lawal, the coalition’s goal is to create a democratic platform for transparent leadership selection.

He explained the process: a national convention would elect a trusted leadership team, who would then oversee primaries at all levels, ward, local government, and state, and later conduct party congresses.

He emphasized that the coalition accommodates members with diverse ambitions and fosters internal democracy.

Addressing speculation about a potential Atiku-Obi alliance, he dismissed such talks as premature.

“How can he make a deal when he isn’t yet the presidential candidate? It is after the convention and somebody wins that the party can sit down and begin to say, Who do we make a vice-president?” Lawal said.

On the question of Rabiu Kwankwaso’s involvement, Lawal clarified that while he is not part of the coalition, he is also not in opposition to it.

He noted Kwankwaso might be observing the developments before making a move.

He also downplayed fears that defections to the APC could threaten the opposition’s strength.

“If I contest House of Assembly election in my local government, and I am defeated… I will quickly defect to that party, contest there and take it,” Lawal stated, pointing to the fluid nature of Nigerian politics.

Responding to reports that the coalition may adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform, Lawal said no final decision has been made.

“We have narrowed down to a few political parties and we will negotiate,” he said, explaining that technical committees are currently reviewing party constitutions and legal structures to identify the most suitable option.

Lawal ruled out using the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, citing unresolved internal issues.

He said the PDP’s management problems, including the failure of reconciliation efforts such as the Saraki Committee, made it an unstable choice.

He predicted that more PDP members would eventually migrate to the coalition.

Despite still being in the APC, Lawal reiterated that his support for Peter Obi in 2023 came from a place of conviction.

“Political party isn’t a religion. Even in religion, people proselytise; you change,” he said, emphasizing that appealing directly to voters, rather than blind party loyalty, is the coalition’s strategy.

Addressing accusations that the coalition represents Northern entitlement or harbors anti-Southern sentiment, Lawal pointed to the harsh realities in the North.

He said that despite a Southern president, the North continues to suffer from insecurity and underdevelopment.

“If you see how we are being decimated in the North, through Boko Haram, banditry, kidnappings, lack of infrastructure… We can’t even farm. There is hunger and fear,” he said, urging Southern critics to be more understanding.

He dismissed claims that the insecurity problem predates President Tinubu’s administration.

“That’s not an excuse. The president is elected to solve problems, not to allow them to fester. Before he is ready, we will be dead!” Lawal warned.

Finally, Lawal firmly stood by his 2023 choice: “I’ve no regrets supporting Peter Obi in 2023 despite being an APC man.”

He added that had he aligned with the current APC government, “I would have been the most miserable person on earth,” referencing the economic hardship Nigerians are currently facing.

He strongly criticized the APC’s decision to run a Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying it disregarded qualified Northern Christians.

“The Muslim-Muslim ticket symbolises the marginalisation that we are facing. At that level, I couldn’t accept it,” he concluded.