“APC Governors, Chieftains Secretly Supporting Coalition, Only Time Will Tell” — Former SGF Babachir Lawal Reveals
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has revealed that several governors and senior figures within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are covertly backing the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on TVC News’ Beyond the Headlines on Tuesday, Lawal stated that although many of these political actors remain silent in public, they are sympathetic to the coalition’s objective of replacing the current government.
“Yes, there are [APC members working with the coalition], and they will speak for themselves,” Lawal said. “Some might not be brave or bold enough to do it the way I have, but there are very many—some tell me, including some governors.”
Lawal, who formally resigned from the APC on June 29, accused the ruling party of suppressing internal dissent and lacking democratic principles. He admitted to having worked against the party from within for a while, calling out what he described as a toxic political culture.
“The APC has never been united. It’s a party that bullies people into silence. You can’t even offer advice without being branded anti-party. That’s why many of us became frustrated,” he said.
He also cited examples of cross-party support in Nigerian politics, noting that the APC itself pioneered this brand of political maneuvering.
“We’re in a democracy. You can choose to support a better candidate from another party. The APC invented this style. Wike just perfected it,” he added, referring to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, known for his controversial political realignments.
Lawal suggested that a growing number of President Bola Tinubu’s former allies have grown disillusioned with his style of governance, particularly the perceived dominance of a few individuals.
“A lot of us were Tinubu supporters, but now we’re disappointed. It’s about replacing this government with one that truly serves the people,” he stated.
He criticized the ongoing wave of defections into the APC, describing the moves as driven by selfish political calculations rather than genuine belief in the party’s agenda.
“Governors are moving to APC because they know Tinubu has secured the 2027 ticket. There will be no primaries, no real competition. But the truth is, while the governors are decamping, the people are not moving with them,” he said.
Contrary to speculation, Lawal clarified that the emerging opposition coalition is not centered around one political figure, such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
“The coalition is not about Atiku. I’ve been to meetings leaning towards Peter Obi, Atiku, even Rotimi Amaechi. Atiku barely speaks. We agreed that anyone with presidential ambition should lock it up. This is a collective effort,” he explained.
According to Lawal, key opposition figures like Obi, Atiku, and Amaechi all recognize the need to unite in order to challenge the APC’s grip on power.
“Peter Obi knows his movement alone can’t win. Amaechi knows. Atiku knows. That’s why we are coming together—to pool ideas and strategies to unseat this government,” he concluded.
As the 2027 elections approach, Lawal’s revelations hint at deepening cracks within the APC and signal a potentially formidable challenge to President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
