Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has delivered a damning verdict on the chances of northern politicians retaining office under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, warning that re-election would be impossible unless they defect to the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Speaking during an interview on Trust TV, Lawal did not mince words as he accused the APC of marginalising northern Nigeria and failing to deliver on its promises. He argued that most northern elected officials, including governors, would be left with no viable option but to abandon the APC and seek refuge in the ADC if they intend to secure electoral victories in the upcoming polls.
“Which northern elected official will go to campaign on the platform of the APC this coming election? Nobody. Unless ab initio, you have no plan to win the election. I can’t see anywhere,” Lawal declared.
He added pointedly: “Unless they join the ADC, they will not win… simply because they belong to a destructive party. A party that woefully failed to perform.”
Lawal claimed the ADC has already initiated discussions with several governors and top northern political figures, signalling a strategic effort to consolidate opposition forces in preparation for 2027.
His remarks come amid growing internal dissent within the APC and rising concerns over the party’s handling of development issues in the northern region.
Echoing sentiments recently expressed by former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Lawal criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as deliberate neglect of northern Nigeria, particularly in the area of infrastructure.
“Every Nigerian that has anything to do with the North will know that no infrastructure work is going on at any level,” he said.
“No projects are going on, at least they are not visible to the eye. Maybe in their imagination, maybe in the spirit, but we don’t see it. We don’t see any construction work. We don’t see any infrastructure going on. No federal government project whatsoever.”
Lawal, himself an engineer, highlighted his shared technical background with Kwankwaso, noting that it sharpens their awareness of physical development and underscores the visible absence of federal investment in northern projects.
His comments align with Kwankwaso’s earlier rebuke of the Tinubu administration, in which the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader accused the government of prioritising the South in its developmental agenda, to the detriment of the North.
As political realignments begin to take shape ahead of the 2027 general elections, Lawal’s bold declaration signals the deepening fractures within the APC and the increasing appetite for alternative platforms among northern leaders.
Whether the ADC can capitalise on this momentum remains to be seen, but the battle lines for the North’s political future appear to be forming rapidly.
