I persuaded Obi, Kwankwaso to join ADC despite Atiku fears – Babachir Lawal

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has said he persuaded Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to join the African Democratic Congress despite their reservations about Atiku Abubakar’s involvement in the party.

Lawal disclosed this on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, while recounting the negotiations that preceded Obi and Kwankwaso’s entry into the ADC ahead of the opposition party’s primaries.

According to him, Obi was initially hesitant about joining the party but eventually agreed after he persuaded him.

“I attended every meeting of the ADC, and at one time, Peter Obi was playing in and out. I was the one who finally dragged Peter into the ADC and committed him to joining the ADC,” Lawal said.

He also said Kwankwaso had reservations about joining the coalition because of Atiku’s presence, alleging that the former Kano State governor believed the involvement of the former vice president would undermine the party’s prospects.

“We also convinced Kwankwaso to join the ADC, but he was always afraid that with Atiku Abubakar there, nothing good would ever come out of the ADC,” he said.

Lawal said Obi shared similar concerns, particularly over the ADC presidential primary.

He explained that Obi preferred a consensus arrangement because he believed a contested primary could favour candidates with greater financial resources and political influence.

According to Lawal, the failure to reach an agreement on a consensus candidate eventually contributed to the departure of both Obi and Kwankwaso from the ADC.

He said the two politicians became convinced that the primary process was being manipulated in favour of Atiku.

Lawal, who had been an ally of Atiku, subsequently left the ADC after the party’s presidential primary that produced the former vice president as its candidate.

He had alleged that the primary was massively rigged.

Lawal, however, recently joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, which is backing Obi and Kwankwaso as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates respectively ahead of the 2027 election.