2027: Babachir Lawal rules out new party, confirms merger with existing platform

As political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections begin to take shape, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has ruled out the formation of a new political party, confirming instead that his coalition will merge with an existing platform to contest for power.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Vanguard, Lawal said the coalition, comprising key political figures and ex-APC members, has reached a consensus to join an existing party, citing time constraints and legal hurdles associated with registering a new political organisation.

“We’ve concluded that we are joining an existing party. Critical members have already resigned to make room for new leadership,” Lawal disclosed. “We’re finalising the list of leaders for key positions such as chairman, secretary, organising secretary, and treasurer.”

He explained that the coalition initially weighed two options—registering a new party or merging with an existing one. After assessing several political parties—many entangled in legal battles or internal power struggles—they settled for a platform considered legally stable, flexible, and open to integration.

“Some parties had court cases, leadership tussles, or were simply unwilling to make room for us,” he noted. “But we’ve found one that is both welcoming and viable.”

The former SGF also clarified reports linking top political figures like former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi to a new party registration effort spearheaded by Dr. Usman Ardo, Convener of the League of Northern Democrats. Ardo had been pushing for the registration of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).

Lawal, however, distanced the main coalition from the ADA initiative, accusing Ardo of name-dropping high-profile politicians without their consent.

“He [Ardo] has been name-dropping without authorisation. While we can’t stop him from trying to register a party, we’re focused on what is realistic,” Lawal said. “There’s simply not enough time to register and stabilise a new party before the 2027 election campaigns begin.”

According to him, the coalition includes former ministers from the Buhari administration, disillusioned members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and influential political actors, including Atiku and Obi—though not as official emissaries of their current political parties.

He also pointed to the internal crisis plaguing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as an advantage for their group. Lawal predicted that if FCT Minister Nyesom Wike gains full control of the PDP, the majority of dissenting members would likely defect to their new platform rather than join the APC.

“If Wike takes over PDP, 90% of the members who oppose him won’t join APC. They’ll likely come to us, and that will significantly boost our strength,” he added.

Lawal further disclosed that the legal processes required for the merger have reached an advanced stage. The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC) have already convened to restructure the leadership in anticipation of the coalition’s entry.

Importantly, he emphasized that all members are joining as individuals and not under the umbrella of any former party or political bloc, signaling a fresh start for the emerging political force.