The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed comments by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, on the 2027 presidential election, saying his remarks were not deserving of a response.
Lawal had predicted that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) would stand a better chance of defeating President Bola Tinubu if its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, contested on a joint ticket, rather than pursuing separate political ambitions.
Speaking during an interview with Symfoni TV, the former SGF also declared that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar had no realistic chance of winning the presidency in 2027.
Reacting on Sunday, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, dismissed Lawal's assessment.
"He said nothing that's worth responding to," Morka said.
In the interview, Lawal rated the prospects of key political figures ahead of the next general election, arguing that an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket would be highly competitive.
"Peter Obi will try to be fair to everybody. Obi will try to do that which is right.
"Peter Obi, Kwankwaso—take note, I'm pairing them. Individually will be disaster, but I'm pairing them. So I'll give them, on my scale, close to 70 per cent. Bola, 50. Atiku, zero," he said.
Lawal maintained that Atiku's chances of emerging president were bleak.
"Atiku will lose. He will, and I pray he loses. I'm not the only one, and he will lose," he added.
The former SGF also reflected on the events that led to the formation of the APC ahead of the 2015 general election, crediting Tinubu with making major sacrifices to ensure the opposition defeated the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, former President Muhammadu Buhari asked him to facilitate discussions with Tinubu because of the relationship they shared.
"I was in Dubai when Buhari called me and said we wanted to do a merger with the ACN. I told him I couldn't play that role.
"But Buhari insisted, saying, 'You are the only one that can help us do this merger because Bola is your friend,'" Lawal recalled.
He said Tinubu eventually agreed to suspend his own presidential ambition in the interest of building a united opposition.
"But you know my ambition to be president. The priority now is to remove the PDP. I will defer my ambition until we achieve that goal," Lawal quoted Tinubu as saying.
Lawal further claimed Tinubu was instrumental in securing support for Buhari at the APC presidential primary after reviewing the voting strength of delegates across the country.
According to him, Tinubu accepted the argument that Buhari's strong electoral base in the North, combined with South-West support, would produce a winning ticket.
"He saw the logic and persuaded others. Coming from Tinubu, it carried weight, and eventually they agreed to support Buhari," he said.
Lawal also alleged that Tinubu financed critical aspects of the APC's 2015 presidential campaign from his personal resources, including campaign activities for then vice-presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
"Through him, we raised enough money for the campaign. He also funded Osinbajo's campaign, hired aircraft and covered major expenses," he said.
He further claimed Tinubu engaged American political consultants associated with former US President Barack Obama to strengthen the APC's campaign strategy, alleging that more than ₦2 billion was spent on the exercise.
Despite praising Tinubu's contributions to the emergence of the APC and its victory in 2015, Lawal said the current administration had failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
He accused those in government of placing personal interests above national priorities.
"The people running this government don't appear to love the country; they love themselves. Nigerians are unhappy because life has become difficult.
"Somehow, after becoming president, Tinubu has lost his soul," Lawal said.
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