A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would suffer a decisive defeat if the 2027 general elections are conducted in a free and fair manner.
Lawal, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the assertion during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he accused the current administration of attempting to entrench a one-party system.
According to him, the government is unlikely to embrace a truly transparent electoral process because of fears of losing power. He claimed that public sentiment across the country reflects dissatisfaction with the administration.
When asked whether the ADC had data to support his claim, Lawal responded in the affirmative but declined to disclose details, describing the figures as internal party information.
His remarks come amid a standoff between the ADC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The commission had suspended recognition of the David Mark-led National Working Committee and other factions of the party pending the outcome of a court case.
INEC also stated that it would not monitor the party’s congresses and convention. Despite this, the ADC proceeded with its internal processes, culminating in a national convention, which Lawal described as successful.
Defending the legitimacy of the exercise, he said the party acted based on legal advice and dismissed INEC’s stance, insisting that the ADC would participate in future elections regardless of the commission’s position.
Lawal added that while the party has solutions to Nigeria’s challenges, its immediate focus is on removing the current administration, stressing that political change must come first before policy implementation.
