Former ally of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress Bola Tinubu, Babachir Lawal, has claimed that the bulk of Christians in the North are backing the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi.
Lawal stated this during a television interview on Channels Television on Thursday.
Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation said Obi has more chances of winning the presidential election than Tinubu.
“We are politicians and realists. We want to support a political party that has the potential to win and rule; then address all the other dynamics in society, like marginalisation, insecurity, and inclusiveness.
“So, if you look at it, there are only four political parties that are worth our discussion, and we discussed with them. Kwankwaso is a good material for president, for example. We discussed with him, but we look at his tendency and chances of winning the election based on our parameters, it is very small.
“We looked at Labour Party and we think the chances are very big. A government run by Peter Obi and Datti will give Nigeria the desired peace. In fact, it will wean us from this oligarch.
“We don’t need commitment (from Peter Obi). The issue is very simple; if you go to every single Christian village in Nigeria, they will tell you, there might be no other candidate for the other political parties, they’ll tell you we are doing (sic) Peter Obi. If you go to church, everybody is doing (sic) Peter Obi.
There are still some Christians who are hanging around the APC, of course; whatever is their reason, we don’t begrudge them. Some are in the PDP. Average Christian rank and file in the north, they are Labour Party.”
READ ALSO:
- APC Rally: Lagos Govt Announces Traffic Diversion
- Sowore Accuses Media of Forcing Poor Candidates on Nigerians as Front Liners
- Gbajabiamila Cautions Critics Of Student Loans
According to Lawal, chances were that the election would go to a run-off, rather than a first ballot win.
He further stated that the APC was not on the ballot, owing primarily to its Muslim-Muslim ticket, which, he said, had antagonised the Christians, adding that ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar would clear northern votes.
“My thinking is that Bola (Tinubu) will not get 25% in Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Yobe, maybe Borno 25%, maybe. No Hausa-Fulani state, it goes nowhere. Now he has antagonised the Christians, so he loses. He will get the South-West because of affinity and ‘it’s our turn’ syndrome. Atiku will clear most of the northern states,” Lawal said.