Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has revealed that he personally persuaded former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to join the African Democratic Congress.
Lawal made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, September 28, claiming he also played a key role in convincing former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to join the ADC.
The former SGF said he was part of the founding leadership of the ADC coalition formed on July 2, 2025, which later produced former Senate President David Mark as its National Chairman.
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Recounting how Obi joined the coalition, Lawal said, “I attended every meeting of the ADC, and at one time, Peter Obi was playing in and out. I was the one who finally dragged Peter into the ADC and committed him to joining the ADC.”
He added that Kwankwaso was also persuaded to join the platform but was initially reluctant because of the presence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
“We also convinced Kwankwaso to join the ADC, but he was always afraid that with Atiku Abubakar there, nothing good would ever come out of the ADC,” Lawal said.
Lawal, an Adamawa State-born politician and former ally of Atiku, later left the ADC following its presidential primary, alleging that the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate had been compromised.
He has since defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, where he declared support for the joint presidential ticket of Obi and Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general elections.

