Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has mocked Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambitions, calling them a “cheap product” (dailypost.ng). The criticism comes as Atiku, a former vice president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), faces mounting scrutiny over financial issues. Lawal’s remarks highlight growing tensions within Nigeria’s political landscape, where opposition figures are increasingly vocal about the integrity of candidates and their financial dealings.
Atiku has also challenged President Bola Tinubu to explain $20 billion in projects linked to Lebanese-Nigerian businessman Gilbert Chagoury (leadership.ng). This challenge follows a recent BusinessDay investigation that revealed concerns over duplicated allocations in the 2026 budget, prompting Atiku to demand a forensic review (businessday.ng). These developments underscore the political pressure on Atiku as he prepares for the 2027 general election.
In addition, efforts to form a grand alliance among opposition leaders, including Atiku, continue. Kola Ologbondiyan, a former PDP official now advising the ADC, is working to bring together key figures like former governor Obi and former governor Kwankwaso (vanguardngr.com). Such alliances are seen as crucial for mounting a strong challenge to the ruling party ahead of the upcoming elections.
