Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has said whoever emerges the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (APC) would be supported by others to win the 2027 poll.
He disclosed this in an interview with newsmen shortly after the 3rd expanded meeting of the National Political Consultative Group (North) at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
Recall that a coalition of opposition leaders championed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar recently adopted the ADC as platform to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
So far, Atiku, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, who are members of the coalition, have indicated interest in the ADC presidential ticket.
Former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai is also a key member of the coalition.
Answering a question on how the ADC presidential candidate would emerge, Babachir said, “The ADC as a political party is a party that is founded on democratic principles. We are going to conduct congresses and conventions to elect our representatives at the election.
“And whoever emerges—be it North, South, Central, West—whoever emerges at either the congresses or at the convention, ADC will support it, and the Northern Political Consultative Group will support that decision.”
Responding to a question on whether votes would count in the election, Lawal said, “No one in ADC leadership or rank and file believes that votes do not count. Votes do count. And we are going to make sure that votes do count. This election, votes will count.
“I tell you, forget about this fear that votes will not count. ADC is a party of Nigerians. ADC is one. Whatever techniques, whatever malicious activity they throw at us, we’ll counter it effectively. We will counter and defeat them at it.”
He said the meeting was specifically convened to discuss as a family “the challenges of the devil in the North and how to look for solutions to it, how to prepare for the future.”
Lawal, a key member of the coalition said the ADC is committed to forming a government that has the interest of the North at heart, and which will address the challenges facing the North.
“As it is, we are of the opinion that this government has no interest in solving problems confronting the North—be it infrastructure, be it peace, be it security. So we have to take the ball in our hands and work towards achieving solutions to our problems,” he added.
