Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has made a striking prediction for Nigeria's 2027 presidential election, claiming that a joint ticket pairing Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso would give them nearly a 70% chance of victory. In contrast, he assigned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a 50% chance and gave former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar a zero percent chance of winning.
Lawal's Percentage Breakdown
Lawal shared his assessment during an interview with Symfoni TV on July 25, 2026, as reported by The Punch newspaper. He emphasized that the Obi-Kwankwaso pairing would be far stronger than either candidate running alone. "Peter Obi will try to be fair to everybody. Peter Obi will try to do that which is right. Peter Obi, Kwankwaso, take note, I'm pairing them. I'm pairing them. Individually will be disaster, but I'm pairing them. So I'll give them, on my own scale, close to like 70 per cent. Again, Bola, 50. Atiku, zero," Lawal stated.
Atiku's Prospects Dismissed
The former SGF was particularly blunt about Atiku's electoral future, insisting that the former vice president would lose no matter what. "Definitely, Atiku will lose. He will, and I pray he loses. I'm not the only one, and he will lose," Lawal added. His remarks carry additional weight given his recent history with Atiku, as Lawal has repeatedly alleged that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primary process that Atiku won was rigged. The ADC has not formally acknowledged those claims.
Obi's Party Switch
Peter Obi left the ADC on May 2, 2026, and was ratified as the presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress (NDC) on May 29, 2026, for the 2027 general elections. Lawal's endorsement of an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket suggests that the two opposition figures could unite to challenge Tinubu's re-election bid.
Atiku's Camp Rejects Allegations
Atiku's camp has dismissed Lawal's allegations regarding the ADC presidential primary, arguing that no verifiable evidence was presented. Phrank Shaibu, a spokesperson for Atiku, stated that the former SGF relied on unnamed sources and unproven claims, adding that serious accusations required factual backing. The statement suggested that Lawal's criticism stemmed from dissatisfaction over the outcome of the party's presidential primary contest.
Prophetic Predictions
Meanwhile, Prophet Elijah Bamidele Ilukholor also released a prophecy about Nigeria's anticipated 2027 presidential election, sharing a purported divine message concerning the likely winner. The prophecy comes as Nigerians increasingly focus on the 2027 general elections and the potential contenders.
Lawal's numerical predictions add a new dimension to the political discourse, with the former SGF's analysis providing a clear hierarchy of chances for the leading candidates. As the election cycle progresses, these assessments will likely fuel further debate and strategic alignments among political camps.
