Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has dismissed reports of the People’s Democratic Party withdrawing from an ongoing political coalition, saying the party was never under consideration in the planned merger.
Lawal, a founding member of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, described the PDP as “an incurable virus” that holds no appeal for stakeholders in the coalition.
Lawal is currently a key figure in a growing alliance that includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
His comments come in response to a communiqué released last Monday by the PDP Governors’ Forum.
At their meeting in Ibadan, chaired by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, the governors rejected any talk of the PDP joining a coalition or merger ahead of the 2027 elections.
Governor Mohammed stated that while the PDP remains open to welcoming individuals, parties, or groups willing to join its platform, it would not dissolve into or merge with any existing or emerging political bloc.
But Lawal was unimpressed, stating, “Every time we had discussions with members of the other groups working on the coalition, the name PDP never comes up. Everybody we talk to about PDP says it is an incurable virus.
“I have never attended a meeting where the PDP was under consideration for the merger. Maybe Atiku planned to bring them in, but our discussion has mostly revolved around two options: forming a brand-new political party or joining an existing one. The PDP has never been one of those options.”
He went further to criticise the notion of “repairing” the PDP, calling it a lost cause:
“Quite a lot of people inside and outside the PDP have approached us, saying the party can be repaired. But each time, the situation seems to deteriorate further.
“I don’t think those in the PDP are serious people.”
Last week, former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress, Mallam Salihu Lukman, also mocked the PDP governors’ stance, stating that their rejection of the merger was an indirect admission that the party is beyond salvaging.
Lukman emphasised that the coalition’s aim is to rebuild public trust in political institutions and foster credible opposition against the ruling party ahead of 2027.
He also accused Minister of the Fedeal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of deliberately undermining the PDP to prevent the emergence of a viable challenger to President Bola Tinubu.
However, not all PDP members share that view.
Former Deputy National Chairman (South-West), Chief Bode George, supported the governors’ decision, saying it would be disgraceful for a dominant party like the PDP to chase alliances with smaller, structure-less political movements.
George insisted that the PDP would not repeat the mistake of handing its 2027 presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar.
“It would be unfair to give the ticket to another northerner after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari. That would be unjust,” George argued.
But Babachir Lawal fired back, urging George to retire from active politics.
“I respect Bode George as a retired military officer. He was a governor when I was still a student in military school.But in terms of political value, I think his age and experience should have taught him to take a back seat and enjoy his retirement.
“Oga George has never delivered substantial votes for the PDP in Lagos. His past roles give him some credibility, but I don’t think he speaks for the party now. The PDP will sort itself out.”
