Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has declared that President Bola Tinubu can be removed in the 2027 election without the endorsement or backing of former President Muhammadu Buhari. According to Lawal, those seeking Buhari’s favour ahead of the polls are merely “chasing shadows” and do not represent the original ideology of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Lawal, a founding member of the CPC and one-time close ally of Tinubu, made it clear that any government that causes suffering to the masses must be challenged — with or without Buhari’s involvement.
Responding to claims that the opposition coalition, involving himself, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, had Buhari’s support, Lawal dismissed the suggestion. He stressed that the group is made up of mature politicians who are capable of acting independently.
“First of all, we don’t need his (Buhari’s) blessing,” Lawal said. “We only needed to inform him because we are adults. It is not like we will go and beg Buhari to follow us. Even if he says he wants to join, it is our duty to say, ‘No, Oga, please keep off.’ You are too big for us. Stay where you are until you are tired.”
Lawal insisted that the current APC government has betrayed the ideals that once brought progressives together under the CPC. He said the Tinubu administration has inflicted pain and poverty on Nigerians and has completely forgotten the poor, who were the focus of the CPC’s original vision.
“The CPC was built on the ideology of the Talakawa — the poor and vulnerable in society,” Lawal explained. “We learned this from Buhari. The aim was always to fight for those who have no voice, those who are ignored and discriminated against. But this current government is the complete opposite.”
He continued, “It is as if they hate poor people. This government wants to starve them to death. If you’re truly a CPC person, you will feel the pain and be moved to act. We must fight to change this kind of system.”
The clash over the legacy of the CPC has reopened old wounds among its former members, now scattered within the APC. Lawal criticised former Nasarawa Governor Tanko Al-Makura, ex-Minister Adebayo Shittu, and others who still identify with the CPC but remain loyal to Tinubu.
He described them as “black sheep” who never truly believed in the CPC’s mission.
“Some people came into CPC only to get appointments and benefits. When you talk about enduring hardship or standing up for the oppressed, they disappear,” Lawal said. “These ones are now running after Tinubu, hoping for appointments. The ambassadorial list and board appointments are not complete yet, so people are still scrambling for positions.”
Earlier, Adebayo Shittu had mocked the idea of reviving CPC, calling it a “dead horse.” In an interview on Channels TV, he accused Lawal and other aggrieved ex-CPC members of mischief and personal ambition.
“I can never leave the APC. I’m loyal to the party,” Shittu said. “CPC no longer exists. It was dissolved alongside ACN and others to form the APC. Now some people are dragging the name of CPC for selfish reasons.”
He also questioned the idea that only a few individuals could claim the legacy of the CPC, pointing out that many others, including former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, were part of the same movement.
Despite the internal disagreements, Lawal confirmed that the planned opposition merger is well on track. He revealed that strategic discussions have taken place between leaders of the coalition, which include Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai.
“We know what the APC governors went to tell Buhari when they visited him during Sallah. We were not there, but we found out. And we know how to handle it,” Lawal said confidently.
He added that the coalition is determined to bring change in 2027, and they are not depending on any political godfather to do so.
President Tinubu’s government has faced increasing criticism over economic hardship, rising inflation, and the removal of fuel subsidy, which has pushed millions into deeper poverty. Many citizens and former allies have accused his administration of abandoning the pro-poor agenda the APC once promised.
While Tinubu continues to enjoy the support of several APC governors and former CPC members, it’s clear that the cracks within the ruling party are widening, with former allies now forming alliances aimed at unseating him in 2027.
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) was one of the four major political parties that merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013. The party was founded by Muhammadu Buhari and others in 2009 and was seen as a grassroots movement, especially in northern Nigeria. It gained support by focusing on the poor, justice, and anti-corruption.
With Buhari’s exit from office in 2023, the CPC legacy has come under debate, as different factions try to claim its true spirit. For Lawal and his allies, the CPC must stand for the people and must not be reduced to a tool for political appointments.
