ABUJA — Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has ruled out any possibility of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) being part of the emerging opposition coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
In a televised interview on Arise TV, Lawal described the PDP as a party afflicted with what he termed an “incurable virus,” suggesting it was too rigid for meaningful political reform or realignment.
“In all the meetings I’ve attended so far, nobody has ever bothered about adopting the PDP as the platform,” Lawal said. “We all agree that PDP has an incurable virus. No antibiotics can cure what is ailing the PDP, and we don’t want to go into a house that we cannot modify or that is not willing to change.”
He disclosed that a technical committee was weighing options between forming a new political party or adopting an existing one for the opposition alliance. Lawal also confirmed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is a central figure in the coalition’s negotiations.
He emphasized that the alliance was a growing network of like-minded politicians determined to present a formidable challenge to the APC in 2027, adding that an official announcement on the chosen political platform would be made soon.
In a sharp rebuttal, the PDP dismissed Lawal’s remarks as politically motivated and lacking credibility.
Yusuf Dingyadi, Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, said: “While Mr. Lawal is entitled to his personal opinions, we wish to make it categorically clear that the PDP does not seek, nor is it begging for his support or validation in shaping the future of our party or the political direction of this country.”
The party also questioned Lawal’s political standing, saying his tenure in public office was marked more by controversy than achievement.
“The same cannot be said of Mr. Babachir Lawal, whose tenure in public office is remembered more for controversies than for impact. Rather than being an asset, his political antecedents portray him more as a liability to any serious political project,” the PDP stated.
Reaffirming its commitment to internal reforms and strategic alliances based on shared values, the PDP said it was focused on restoring hope and rebuilding Nigeria ahead of 2027.
