Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, asserted that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, will sweep votes in the North, where he hails from, and is likely to win the first ballot.
Lawal, a former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who recently declared support for Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate, however, argued that Obi should win the 2023 presidential election, noting that he would be in shame if he fails to win.
Speaking in an Hausa interview on Thursday, he projected that Atiku will sweep the northern States’ votes and obtain the required 25 percent in all states and the FCT.
Explaining the rationale behind his projection, Lawal said The 2023 election has gone fully tribal and people are likely to vote along ethnic lines. Yoruba will vote for a candidate from the West, Igbo will vote for a candidate from the East, and Hausa will vote for a candidate from the North.
Until recently, Lawal was a strong ally of Tinubu but he fell out with the latter of his decision to choose a Muslim running mate, Kashim Shettima. Lawal, an acclaimed pastor, maintained that the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket is a grave slight on northern Christians, and that it would not stand.
Last week, he officially announced his support for Peter Obi, saying the Labour Party flagbearer and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed represented a national agenda that befit multi ethnic, religion-diverse Nigeria.
We want Obi to win this election, and must win this election. If we lose this election, well migrate to Cameroon, because of the shame and failure to win. Peter Obi must win this election, the former SGF declared.
