2023: Peter Obi’s Endorsement By Babachir Lawal Divides Northern Christians

Some prominent Northern Christian leaders of the All Progressives Congress have reacted after a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal endorsed Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party on behalf of the group.

The group led by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said Lawal didn’t carry other members of the group along before endorsing Obi.

The group noted that the decision to endorse Obi was that of Lawal.

A few days ago, Lawal had disclosed that the group, after much consultations, opted for the LP presidential candidate.

The group vowed not to support the APC due to its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

They lamented that APC should have picked a Northern Christian presidential running mate and not a Muslim.

However, a statement jointly signed by Dogara, Simon Achuba, Albert Atiwurcha, Prof Doknan Sheni, Mela Nunge (SAN), Gen. Ishaya Bauka (rtd), Prof Ibrahim Haruna, and Mrs Leah Olusiyi, dismissed the endorsement.

They said the group was yet to disclose its decision on who to endorse in 2023.

“We want to draw the attention of the general public to the recent position canvassed by our Chairman, B.D Lawal as the position of our group.

“We wish to state that necessary consultations have been concluded, and based on manifestly unassailable empirical data, the group is poised to adopt a position which will be made known to the public at an interfaith event to be held very soon.

“Suffice to say that no one in the group, including the chairman, has been mandated to speak to the public about our position at this material time. Based on our modus operandi, our position was meant to be presented to the general public at the event referred to above. That has not changed,” the group said.