Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has stated that the parameters for choosing Nigeria’s next president will differ from those used before the 2023 general election.
Moreover, Lawal, who backed Labour Party’s Peter Obi in the last poll, said political realities had shifted. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, he explained that politics changes quickly.
“A day in politics is long. Things have changed. The parameters we used in 2023 will not be the same this time. We will see how it goes.”
Maintains Obi Won 2023 Election
The former SGF maintained his belief that Peter Obi was the true winner of the 2023 presidential election.
Shifting focus to the northern political landscape, Lawal stressed the need for unity. He said leaders in the region must choose a candidate who understands northern challenges and is ready to address them.
Northern Bloc Emerges Ahead of 2027
Lawal revealed that prominent northern politicians outside government have created the Nigerian People’s Consultative Political Forum (North). The group aims to unite the north and prevent division.
He said almost every key northern politician who is not in government attends the meetings. The consensus is that the north must vote as a bloc to achieve its goals.
Furthermore, the forum resolved to back only a candidate from any part of the country who understands the region’s needs and is committed to addressing them.
ADC Selected as Political Platform
Lawal disclosed that the forum decided to work under one strong political party. Consequently, they chose the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their platform.
On the national stage, he mentioned several potential 2027 presidential contenders. These include former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Call for National Interest Over Ethnic Sentiment
Lawal urged Nigerians to choose their next leader based on competence and national interest rather than partisan loyalty or ethnic sentiment.
“The decision on who leads Nigeria must go beyond party lines or regional bias,” he said.
