Abuja, Nigeria – Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and former Deputy National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Babachir Lawal, has explained his opposition to another presidential bid by Atiku Abubakar, arguing that the principles of fairness, equity, and political zoning must be respected ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during an interview, Lawal maintained that while no politician is perfect, there are fundamental democratic principles that should never be sacrificed for personal ambition.
According to him, “I have never claimed to be a perfect being, neither do I expect perfection from any human being. I have made mistakes and learnt from my mistakes, and I am still learning and will keep learning.”
The former SGF recalled his decision to part ways with the ruling APC during the 2023 election cycle after the emergence of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, despite assurances of political benefits.
Lawal stated that he could not compromise on principles merely for personal gain.
“If I could dump APC and Tinubu during the 2023 campaign after discovering that Tinubu had secretly adopted a Muslim-Muslim ticket without my knowledge, even after promises of a ministerial appointment, then who is Atiku Abubakar that I cannot also reject for violating the same zoning principles?” he queried.
The veteran politician argued that zoning has played a critical role in Nigeria’s democratic stability since 1999 and noted that Atiku himself had benefited immensely from the arrangement over the years.
According to Lawal, the South overwhelmingly supported Atiku’s 2019 presidential bid partly because power rotation and zoning were widely respected at the time. He contended that the former vice president’s refusal to support a southern presidential candidate in 2023 undermined the same principle that had previously worked in his favour.
“Was it not because of zoning that Atiku performed strongly across many southern states in 2019? That same principle contributed significantly to the millions of votes secured by the Atiku-Obi ticket,” he said.
Lawal further revealed that he initially accepted a leadership position within the ADC after being persuaded by political associates who believed Atiku would eventually support the emergence of a southern presidential candidate for the sake of national balance and justice.
However, he said those expectations were disappointed.
“Many of us believed that for the first time, Atiku would do the honourable thing by stepping aside for a southern candidate since it was clearly the South’s turn. Unfortunately, that did not happen,” he stated.
The former APC stalwart also disclosed that his reduced involvement in ADC activities became noticeable after key figures, including former presidential candidate Peter Obi and others, exited the political arrangement.
“After Obi and others left, did you see me campaigning for ADC again? I simply remained quiet until it became necessary to speak,” he said.
Lawal’s comments are expected to reignite the debate over power rotation, regional balance, and the future of opposition politics as preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum across Nigeria.
Political analysts say the zoning question remains one of the most contentious issues likely to shape alliances, party realignments, and voter sentiments ahead of the next general election.
