Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has dismissed claims that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was ever part of ongoing merger talks aimed at forming a formidable political bloc ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Lawal—an influential member of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)—criticized the PDP as politically irrelevant and described it as “an incurable virus” unattractive to serious opposition stakeholders.
Lawal is a central figure in the emerging coalition which reportedly includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
His remarks followed a communiqué released last week by the PDP Governors’ Forum after a meeting in Ibadan. Chaired by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, the Forum rejected any idea of the PDP merging with or dissolving into another political movement. Mohammed reiterated that while the PDP remained open to collaborations and welcoming new members, it had no plans to join or be absorbed by another political structure.
But Lawal waved off the PDP’s assertion, saying the party was never on the table.
“Each time we’ve met to discuss this coalition, the name PDP has never been mentioned. Everyone I’ve spoken with sees the PDP as an incurable virus. It is simply not part of our plans,” Lawal said.
He added, “There’s been talk from some people—both within and outside the PDP—about fixing or repairing the party. But it only keeps getting worse. Frankly, I don’t believe the PDP is a serious political platform anymore.”
Lawal suggested that the coalition is considering only two options: forming a brand-new political party or aligning with an existing party—not the PDP.
In the same vein, former APC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Salihu Lukman, mocked the PDP governors’ stance, saying their rejection of the merger reflects the party’s internal dysfunction. He argued that the coalition's goal is to offer Nigerians a credible alternative and restore trust in political institutions eroded by years of misgovernance.
Lukman also pointed fingers at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accusing him of undermining the PDP from within to stall the formation of a strong opposition to President Bola Tinubu.
However, not all PDP leaders agree with this narrative.
Former Deputy National Chairman (South-West), Chief Bode George, welcomed the governors’ decision, describing it as necessary to preserve the PDP’s identity and pride. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, George said the party should not diminish itself by courting smaller political movements with little national structure.
George also threw a jab at Atiku Abubakar’s ambitions, insisting that the PDP must not repeat what he described as the “mistake” of fielding a northern candidate after the Buhari era.
“It would be wrong and unjust to give the ticket to another northerner. The South deserves its turn,” he said.
But Babachir Lawal was quick to fire back, saying George no longer speaks with any real political weight.
“I respect Chief Bode George as a retired military officer. He was a governor when I was in military school. But politically, I think it’s time for him to take a step back and enjoy his retirement,” Lawal said.
“He has never really delivered votes for the PDP in Lagos, and while he may carry some legacy credibility, he doesn’t reflect the current mood or direction of the party.”
As the race to 2027 heats up, the proposed merger talks continue to take shape—with or without the PDP—signaling a possible political realignment ahead of what is expected to be a highly contested election.
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