Babachir, Atiku, Tinubu and 2027

The political landscape in Nigeria is fraught with internal party struggles, as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar navigates challenges within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the party he intended to use for his presidential ambitions.

Abubakar's path to the presidency has been further complicated by allegations of widespread malpractices during the ADC presidential nomination process. Both his rivals, former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi and corporate giant Mohammed Hayatudeen, publicly condemned the process. Even after Abubakar attempted to mend fences by visiting his opponents, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, launched a scathing personal attack.

Lawal's statement, filled with personal insults, dismissed Abubakar as unfit for the presidency and controversially suggested that incumbent President Bola Tinubu would be a preferable leader. This public criticism from Lawal, who is known for his identity-based politics, offers a stark contrast to the usual political maneuvering. The author recalls past encounters with Lawal, describing him as a man "without filter" whose political discourse often revolves around ethnic and religious identity, citing instances where Lawal made ethnically charged remarks and expressed a sense of marginalization.

Lawal's outspoken nature and his tendency to prioritize identity politics over conventional messaging were evident in past interactions, including a background briefing where he praised Bola Tinubu and made uncomfortable statements about Fulani people, despite his principal being Fulani. This history suggests that Lawal's recent attack on Abubakar, while sharp, is consistent with his established pattern of unfiltered and ethnically tinged commentary.