Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, says President Bola Tinubu has made Nigeria’s problems worse than they were under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Lawal made the remark during an interview on Beyond The Headlines with Nifemi Oguntoye, aired on TVC News.
The former APC chieftain said he supported Tinubu in 2023 but soon became disillusioned by what he described as the president’s failure to address inherited challenges.
“Government is about improving lives. If Tinubu inherited bad policies, why hasn’t he fixed them? Instead, he has worsened them,” Lawal said.
He accused the APC-led government of undermining democracy by rigging elections, controlling the judiciary, and intimidating voters.
“This is a government that controls the judiciary, rigs elections, and intimidates voters,” he said.
Lawal, who officially resigned from the APC on June 29, disclosed that he had long stopped working for the party before his exit, citing its culture of intolerance.
“APC has never been united. It’s a party bullied into silence. You can’t even advise them. The moment you raise dissent, you become the enemy,” he said.
He revealed that several APC governors and top figures are secretly working with a new coalition that aims to unseat Tinubu in 2027.
“Many are with us. Very, very many,” he said, referring to a coalition anchored on the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Lawal dismissed claims that the coalition, comprising former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, ex-governors Peter Obi, Nasir el-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi, is built on political bitterness.
“This coalition isn’t just an anti-Tinubu project. Our goal is clear: replace a non-performing government with one that serves Nigerians better,” he said.
He noted that in a democracy, it is legitimate to leave a failing party and join forces with others to pursue national redemption.
“In democracy, it’s allowed to leave a failing party and join forces with others to chart a better course,” he added.
Lawal, who supported Peter Obi in the 2023 election, confirmed that he still leans toward the former Anambra governor.
“Within the coalition, everyone knows I’m on Peter Obi’s side,” he said.
He added that Atiku and Amaechi also command respect within the alliance, but that all members have agreed to suspend personal ambitions to build a strong front.
“I’ve attended nearly all the coalition’s meetings. Atiku sits quietly and listens. Peter Obi, Amaechi, and others are active. Everyone has agreed to shelve personal ambitions—for now,” he said.
