Atiku Replies Babachir Lawal, Slams Former SGF for Promoting Ethnic Division

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, accusing him of attempting to stoke ethnic and regional divisions under the guise of advocating for a younger presidential candidate.

The political rift between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Babachir Lawal widened on Sunday as Atiku’s camp responded sharply to Lawal's suggestion that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) should replace its veteran flagbearer for the 2027 election.

In a statement released by his media office, Atiku described Lawal’s remarks as "unfortunate" and "divisive," alleging that the former SGF’s call for a younger candidate is a calculated attempt to introduce ethnic sentiments into the 2027 race.

“It is disappointing that a man of Babachir Lawal’s standing would resort to promoting ethnic and regional narratives instead of focusing on the competence and vision required to lead Nigeria out of its current challenges,” the statement read. “Leadership is about capacity, experience, and the ability to unite the country, not about using age as a smokescreen for chauvinistic politics.”

The rebuttal comes hours after Lawal publicly advised the ADC to look for a "vibrant" and younger candidate to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027, arguing that Atiku should step aside for a new generation of leaders.

However, Atiku’s team insisted that the former Vice President’s decision to run is driven by a commitment to rescue Nigeria from economic and security collapse, rather than personal ambition. They accused Lawal of "political grandstanding" and trying to play the role of a kingmaker based on regional interests.

“The challenges facing Nigerians—hunger, inflation, and insecurity—do not ask for the age of a leader; they ask for a solution,” the camp added. “To suggest that the opposition’s success depends solely on age is a simplistic and dangerous narrative that Babachir Lawal is using to promote a specific ethnic agenda.”

Atiku’s camp further challenged Lawal to focus on the performance of the current administration rather than "meddling" in the internal strategic choices of the opposition. They maintained that the ADC remains a democratic platform where the most capable individual will lead the charge, regardless of age-based biases.

This exchange signals a heating up of the internal debates within the "Third Force" coalition, as different political interests clash over the direction of the opposition ahead of the next general election.