Lawal Claims Atiku Asked Him to Persuade Peter Obi to Be His 2027 Running Mate
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 Babachir Lawal has claimed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar asked him to persuade Peter Obi to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and become his running mate in the 2027 presidential election.
Lawal disclosed this in an interview with Diaspora Digital Media while recounting negotiations that preceded the eventual split between the Atiku and Obi camps. According to Lawal, Atiku personally assigned him the task of approaching Obi as part of an effort to build a united opposition platform.
Lawal said the proposal went beyond a conventional vice-presidential arrangement, claiming that Atiku envisioned serving with Obi for four years before pursuing a constitutional amendment to establish a single six-year presidential term, which Obi would subsequently benefit from.
He said he presented the proposal to Obi, who, according to his account, indicated that he was not interested in the arrangement. Obi has disputed this version of events, saying he could not have rejected an offer that was never presented to him.
The claims come amid continuing political realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Lawal resigned from the ADC in June 2026, alleging irregularities in the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku as its candidate, allegations Atiku’s camp rejected.
Lawal subsequently joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in September and has publicly supported the Peter Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket, while Atiku remains the ADC’s presidential candidate.