- We Have What It Takes To Unseat Tinubu, End APC’s Reign — Lawal
- Coalition, Just An Association Of Internally Displaced Politicians — APC
By Kolawole Ojebisi
A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has said that the planned coalition movement, being spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Sokoto state governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor Achike Udenwa of Imo State, amongst others holds the aces in the anticipated 2027 battle for the most exalted political seat in the country.
This assertion has, however, led to a war of words between the ex-scribe to the Federal Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking in an interview published by Punch newspaper on Monday, Lawal said the coalition is giving President Bola Tinubu sleepless nights considering the calibre and political credentials of those coming together to forge the alliance.
He alleged that Tinubu is plotting to scuttle the coalition with every power at his disposal.
“This political party we are forming — most of those comments about Tinubu being unbeatable — are like people peering through tinted glass and assuming they know what’s happening inside,” he said.
“Tinubu knows we can defeat him. Even those around him who are sincere know he’s an endangered species in terms of the 2027 Presidency. We still hear what they say behind closed doors. There’s panic.”
He pointed to recent reports of alleged censorship of anti-government songs, saying, “Imagine if a small boy like Idris Abdulkareem sings a song and they rush to ban it from airwaves — it’s a trait of insecure people frightened even by small things. They’ve gone bananas out of desperation. A scared man has no rules of engagement.”
Lawal also argued that Atiku, El-Rufai, and other coalition members are well-versed in Tinubu’s political playbook, having previously worked together as allies.
“We’ve stayed together before. If people still say I was the one sent to buy Tinubu’s presidential election form, then it means we know each other well. Atiku and Rauf Aregbesola were once political allies of Tinubu too. We know the methods used in Nigeria to win elections — and the tactics used to make the opposition lose.”
However, in a swift reaction, APC’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, in an interview also published by Punch newspaper dismissed the said threats posed by the proposed coalition, describing it as a gathering of “internally displaced politicians.”
He said, “There is no coalition. It’s a figment of the imagination of some individuals who think they are important. It’s just an association of internally displaced politicians.”
Recent remarks by some disgruntled factions of the ruling APC, particularly elements of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, have fuelled speculations of renewed determination to form a coalition that will challenge Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027.
The CPC, led by former President Muhammadu Buhari, was one of the four parties that merged to form the APC in 2013.
There are also concerns in the APC over the recent the defection of some CPC-aligned members to the Social Democratic Party, a development fuelling rumours of impending fracture in the ruling party.
Recall that last month, Atiku and El-Rufai led a delegation to visit Buhari in Kaduna.
Though the visit was publicly described as a post-Sallah courtesy call, many observers interpreted it as a strategic move to secure Buhari’s support for the coalition.
Other notable figures in the delegation included former Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa), and Achike Udenwa (Imo).
