Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has alleged that several governors and top-ranking members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are secretly working with an opposition coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Lawal made the revelation during an interview on Beyond the Headlines aired Tuesday on TVC News, just days after formally resigning from the APC on June 29, 2025.
According to him, while some of these political figures have yet to go public, they privately support the coalition’s goal of replacing the current government, citing disappointment with Tinubu’s administration.
“Yes, there are APC members working with the coalition, including some governors,” Lawal said. “Some may not be bold enough to speak openly as I have, but they are fully in support.”
He explained that his discontent with the APC had been long-standing and that he had operated against the party from within due to what he described as internal repression and a lack of democratic freedom.
“The APC has never been united. It’s a party of intimidation where even giving advice is considered anti-party,” Lawal said. “Many members feel silenced, unable to speak truth to power.”
Babachir Lawal pointed out that he was following a political template pioneered by the APC itself—remaining within a party while working across lines. He referenced Nyesom Wike, a former PDP governor now serving in Tinubu’s cabinet, as a political example of such cross-party maneuvering.
Speaking further, the former SGF mocked recent political defections into the APC, suggesting they are driven more by fear and self-preservation than loyalty.
“These governors know Tinubu has locked down the 2027 presidential ticket. There will be no primaries,” he claimed. “They are joining APC to secure their political careers, not because the people are following them.”
He argued that while some governors are joining the ruling party, their support base is not moving with them. “People are not interested. They’re tired,” he stated.
On the growing opposition coalition, Lawal clarified that it is not centered on Atiku Abubakar, despite public perceptions. Rather, it is a collective effort involving multiple political figures, including Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Atiku.
“The coalition is not about Atiku. In our meetings, everyone with presidential ambition was told to shelve it. No single candidate can defeat an incumbent alone,” he explained. “Obi knows he can’t win on his own. Atiku knows. Amaechi knows. That’s why we’re joining forces.”
Babachir Lawal emphasized that the objective is not personal ambition, but national redemption. “Many of us just want a government that serves the people better. This coalition is our attempt to give Nigerians a viable alternative,” he concluded.
