Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has reignited political debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election after expressing a preference for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Lawal made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he assessed the political landscape and the prospects of key contenders ahead of the next general election.
Despite being a vocal critic of the current administration in the past, the former SGF argued that Tinubu’s leadership experience and political background make him a more reliable choice for Nigeria when compared to Atiku.
According to Lawal, although the country continues to grapple with significant economic and governance challenges under Tinubu’s administration, he believes the President remains a safer option than an Atiku-led government.
“I said that if it must be a choice between Atiku and Tinubu, I believe Bola Tinubu’s presidency, as challenging as it is now, would still be the safer and more capable option for the country,” Lawal stated during the programme.
The former SGF further stirred controversy with an analogy he used to explain his position, suggesting that when faced with two undesirable choices, one should opt for the less harmful alternative.
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“When you are between the devil and the devil and you must go somewhere, you look for the lesser devil, because even in the satanic world, devils have categories,” he said.
The comments are expected to generate reactions within opposition circles, particularly among supporters of Atiku and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where Lawal was once politically aligned.
Lawal has maintained a critical stance toward Atiku in recent months. He previously accused the ADC of conducting a flawed presidential primary that allegedly favoured Atiku, claiming the process was heavily manipulated.
His dissatisfaction with the conduct of the primary election ultimately led to his resignation from the party, further widening the rift between him and Atiku’s political camp.
Political observers view Lawal’s latest remarks as a significant development in the evolving alliances and rivalries shaping the build-up to the 2027 presidential race.
While he stopped short of formally endorsing Tinubu’s re-election bid, his comments suggest a preference for continuity over a return to Atiku’s leadership ambitions.
With political realignments already taking shape across party lines, Lawal’s position is likely to fuel further debate over the strengths and weaknesses of the leading figures expected to dominate Nigeria’s next presidential contest.
His intervention also underscores the growing competition for influence among political heavyweights as parties and stakeholders begin positioning themselves for what promises to be a fiercely contested election cycle.