I persuaded Obi, Kwankwaso to join ADC despite Atiku fears – Babachir Lawal
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal confirmed that he played a key role in persuading Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), despite their initial reservations about the party’s association with Atiku Abubakar.
Lawal made the comments during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, discussing the negotiations that led to Obi and Kwankwaso’s entry into the ADC prior to the opposition party’s primaries.
He noted that Obi was initially reluctant to become part of the ADC but ultimately agreed after discussions with Lawal. “I attended every meeting of the ADC, and at one time, Peter Obi was indecisive. I was the one who finally convinced Peter to join the ADC and committed him to the party,” Lawal said.
Lawal also mentioned that Kwankwaso had expressed concerns regarding Atiku’s involvement, believing that the former vice president’s presence could diminish the party’s chances for success. “We also convinced Kwankwaso to join the ADC, but he always feared that with Atiku Abubakar involved, nothing good would come from the ADC,” Lawal stated.
Both politicians shared concerns about the party’s presidential primary, with Obi advocating for a consensus arrangement. He believed that a competitive primary would likely favor candidates with more financial resources and political influence.
Lawal explained that the inability to reach a consensus on a candidate ultimately influenced Obi and Kwankwaso’s decision to leave the ADC. He indicated that both politicians felt the primary process was being manipulated to benefit Atiku.
After the ADC’s presidential primary, which resulted in Atiku being named the party’s candidate, Lawal, who had previously aligned himself with Atiku, departed from the ADC, alleging that the primary was marred by significant irregularities.
Recently, Lawal has joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a party that supports Obi and Kwankwaso as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates, respectively, in anticipation of the 2027 elections.
