Explosive Revelation: Atiku's Secret Bid to Make Peter Obi His VP in 2027
Former SGF Babachir Lawal has disclosed that Atiku Abubakar tasked him with persuading Peter Obi to become his running mate for the 2027 presidential election under the ADC, promising a future single six-year term for Obi. However, Peter Obi has vehemently denied ever receiving such an offer, fueling further debate amidst ongoing political realignments.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has revealed intricate details regarding pre-2027 presidential election negotiations involving prominent political figures. In an interview with Diaspora Digital Media, Lawal disclosed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar approached him with a specific mission: to persuade Peter Obi to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and accept the role of his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
Lawal elaborated on the sequence of events, stating that Atiku personally contacted him to assign this crucial task, aimed at fostering a united opposition front. The proposal extended beyond a mere running mate position; it included a detailed plan for their potential administration. According to Lawal, Atiku suggested an arrangement where he and Obi would serve a four-year term. During this period, they would pursue a constitutional amendment to establish a single six-year presidential term, which Peter Obi would then be slated to benefit from.
Despite the elaborate nature of the offer, Lawal conveyed that Peter Obi was not receptive to the proposal. Lawal explicitly stated, "I went to Obi with this proposal, but Peter Obi said he was not interested." This rejection, as recounted by Lawal, marked a significant point in the opposition negotiations that ultimately led to the divergence of the Atiku and Obi camps.
However, Obi has since disputed Lawal’s account, asserting that he could not have rejected an offer that was never presented to him. This contradiction adds another layer of complexity to the narrative surrounding the political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The disclosure by Lawal comes amid a period of ongoing political realignments and strategic positioning by various political actors.
Further contextualizing these developments, Lawal himself had previously resigned from the ADC in June 2026. His resignation stemmed from allegations of irregularities in the party’s presidential primary, which had ultimately led to Atiku’s emergence as its candidate. Atiku’s camp, however, had rejected these allegations, setting the stage for continued political tensions and debates within the Nigerian political landscape.