2023: Northern Christian politicians deny endorsing Peter Obi, distances self from Babachir Lawal’s group

Some prominent Northern politicians have distanced themselves from the group led by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, which endorsed Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate for the 2023 general elections.

A group purporting to comprise some Northern Christian politicians, coordinated by Mr Lawal had endorsed Mr Obi as its preferred candidate for the 2023 poll.

In a statement released in Abuja, Mr Lawal said that the group settled for Mr Obi, after a painstaking review and analysis of the alternative presidential ticket holders.

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Reacting in a statement on Thursday, some of the politicians including a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, distanced themselves from the group, saying that Mr Lawal only spoke for himself, not the group.

Signatories to the statement included Yakubu Dogara, Simon Achuba, Albert Atiwurcha, Prof Doknan Sheni, Mela A. Nunge, Ishaya Bauka, Prof Ibrahim Haruna and Leah Olusiyi.

The politicians, however, disclosed that necessary consultations have been concluded, and that their position would be made known to the public at an interfaith event to be held very soon.

“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.

“Suffices 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 above referred to. That has not changed,” the statement noted.

The politicians stressed that, “the decision to endorse a particular candidate and the statement credited to the chairman are solely the decision and views of the Chairman which he is absolutely entitled to but not that of the group”.

“We hope this statement clears all the queries most of us have been inundated with on this all-important subject matter.”

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