Former SGF reveals how ex-Vice President attempted to broker an ADC joint ticket with constitutional reform promises ahead of 2027, but the former Anambra governor refused a secondary role.
ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has revealed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar personally tasked him to lobby Peter Obi into joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as Atiku’s vice-presidential running mate, a proposal Obi rejected outright.
Lawal made the disclosure in Abuja while formally declaring his membership for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) alongside party leaders. According to the former SGF, Atiku’s proposed power-sharing arrangement was anchored on a single four-year tenure, during which their administration would enact sweeping constitutional amendments to introduce a single six-year presidential term.
Detailing the backstage negotiations, Lawal stated that Atiku initiated contact to enlist his support in bringing the former Anambra State governor on board. “Atiku called me and told me that he wanted to work with me. He gave me a mission to convince Peter Obi to join the ADC and serve as his vice president. He explained that during their four year term, they would change the Constitution to provide for a single six year term, which Obi would benefit from,” Lawal stated.
However, the outreach collapsed immediately upon presentation. “I went to Obi with this proposal, but Peter Obi said he was not interested,” Lawal added, confirming that Obi declined to serve as a subordinate candidate or accept conditional tenure promises.
The revelation sheds light on intense opposition realignments and ticket negotiations taking place across political camps ahead of the 2027 general elections. Political analysts across the South-East view Obi’s firm rejection as a key signal to coalition partners that the region will not settle for a secondary position on national tickets. Lawal, who has now assumed a campaign leadership role for the NDC across the North-East, reaffirmed his commitment to the Obi-Kwankwaso alignment, maintaining that genuine political reform and regional equity remain vital for Nigeria’s future.
