Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain, Engineer David Babachir Lawal, has declared that he would rather return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) than support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar if he emerges as the presidential candidate of the opposition coalition.
Lawal made this known during an appearance on Naija Unfiltered, a programme by SYMFONI, where he spoke about the ongoing talks to form a political alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He disclosed that he had previously discussed the coalition with Peter Obi and informed him that he would not join the alliance if Atiku was eventually chosen to contest the presidency on its platform.
According to Lawal, he decided to speak directly with Obi because he regarded him as a younger brother who respected his position as an elder.
The NDC chieftain said his decision was firm and would remain unchanged even if the coalition eventually settled on Atiku as its candidate.
Recalling his conversation with Obi, Lawal said he questioned the push for Atiku’s candidacy and told Obi that he would stay away from the coalition if the former vice president was picked.
Lawal also joked that he would return to the APC and seek forgiveness from President Bola Tinubu if Atiku became the coalition’s candidate.
He said he would make efforts to regain access to the Presidential Villa and reconnect with the ruling party.
However, Lawal explained that there was some seriousness behind his remark, saying his position was based on his personal assessment of what could happen to Nigeria under the two political options.
He argued that although the country could experience difficulties under Tinubu, he believed such challenges would be more organised.
In contrast, Lawal suggested that an Atiku presidency could lead to a more chaotic situation.
His comments come as opposition politicians continue discussions over the formation of a coalition capable of challenging the APC in the 2027 presidential election.
The proposed alliance has continued to generate debate, particularly over who should lead the coalition and emerge as its presidential candidate.
Lawal’s position highlights the differences among political figures involved in the coalition talks, with some stakeholders holding different views on the suitability of Atiku and other possible candidates.
For Lawal, however, supporting Atiku is not an option, as he has indicated that he would rather return to the APC than back the former vice president’s presidential ambition.
