Babachir’s prediction of Atiku’s defeat lacks basis - ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly refuted claims made by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, regarding the electoral prospects of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2027 election. Lawal had predicted that Abubakar would score "zero" in the election, a statement the ADC described as a personal prayer rather than an evidence-based assessment.

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I think the statement that this projection need not be commented upon is a right one. When you just say you are praying, as a matter of prayer, everyone has a right to pray, he said, ‘I pray he loses. He will surely lose. I pray he loses.’ That is not a scientific approach to a projection that you can argue against.

Chille Igbawua, the Special Adviser to the ADC National Chairman on Research, Policy and Strategy, criticized Lawal's projection during an interview. "When you just say you are praying, as a matter of prayer, everyone has a right to pray, he said, ‘I pray he loses. He will surely lose. I pray he loses.’ That is not a scientific approach to a projection that you can argue against," Igbawua stated. He added that it is difficult to debate someone who offers no factual basis for their predictions.

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So it becomes difficult to argue against a person who has no basis for making a projection.

Igbawua emphasized that the ADC is concentrating on developing a robust electoral platform and a clear policy document, rather than engaging in speculative political forecasts. "We are working on what it takes to win an election. So when we speak about winning, we’re not speaking just rhetorics; we’re speaking from the work and the analysis we’re doing," he asserted, highlighting the party's commitment to a structured approach to achieving victory.

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I believe that ADC has its programmes well set out. I believe that we have one of the most robust manifestos of any political party in Nigeria at the moment. We have a clear-cut policy document that we are going to work on, and our objective has always been, and has not changed, to rescue Nigeria from the drift that we are witnessing continually.

Addressing the role of Peter Obi, Igbawua clarified that Obi was not part of the initial opposition coalition that led to the formation of the ADC. According to Igbawua, Obi joined the party on December 31st of the previous year, after the coalition had already concluded its consultations and selected the ADC as its platform. "The project started long, long before Peter Obi came in," Igbawua noted, distinguishing Obi's entry from the foundational stages of the coalition's efforts.

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We are working on what it takes to win an election. So when we speak about winning, we’re not speaking just rhetorics; we’re speaking from the work and the analysis we’re doing.