Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, has defended his decision to refer to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as “Kachalla,” saying the title is commonly used by people such as notorious bandit leader Bello Turji to address their local leaders.

Lawal made the remarks while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday, shortly after announcing his resignation from the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

According to him, “Kachalla” is a title used by people in the bush to address their leaders, adding that Atiku, being a Fulani man, should not find the description unusual.

The former SGF also alleged that some Fulani groups were celebrating Atiku’s emergence as a presidential candidate because they believed it would improve their chances of producing Nigeria’s next president.

Lawal further accused the former vice president of failing to publicly condemn killings, kidnappings and violent attacks in parts of the country, particularly in northern Nigeria and his home state of Adamawa.

He questioned Atiku’s response to recent attacks that claimed several lives, including incidents in Adamawa, alleging that the former vice president had neither condemned the violence nor visited affected communities to sympathise with victims.

Lawal also referenced the killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto in 2022, claiming that Atiku initially issued a statement condemning the incident before later distancing himself from it.

He argued that a presidential aspirant should openly condemn acts of violence and what he described as ongoing killings in different parts of the country.

Lawal said:

“I called him ‘Kachalla’ because that’s the title people like Bello Turji call their local leaders. That’s the title their people in the bush use. Is he not a Fulani?

“Fulanis are celebrating now that their brother has gotten a ticket, aren’t they? And they are beginning to celebrate that they will produce the president.

“Why are they celebrating if they are not intending to use it for you? Have you ever heard Atiku condemn any of these kidnappings? Have you ever heard him on record condemning all these massive killings?

“Whether it is all these killings, eighteen people killed and maimed, what has Atiku said about it, not even talking about going there? Not even going to sympathise with the victims.

“Even in Adamawa, they killed seventeen villagers recently. Has he ever condemned it? Because the victims are not his people, has he ever condemned it, for God’s sake?

“Go and ask him. When they did that thing to Deborah in Sokoto and he made a press statement condemning it, he had to retract it. He had to retract it and started saying that it was his SA acting without his authority. He said that.

“He wants to be the president and he cannot condemn the genocide that is going on right before him, in his own state.”

A member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Makoda Constituency, Hon. Muhammad Ahmad Tomas, has left the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tomas made his return known on Monday during a visit to the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, at his residence in Abuja.

He was accompanied by the chairmen of Makoda and Dambatta local government areas, Alhaji Isa Currency and Alhaji Jamilu Abubakar Dambatta.

Receiving the lawmaker, Senator Barau described his return to the APC as a welcome development, saying it aligns with efforts to strengthen governance and political stability.

“This is a timely and commendable decision. It shows commitment to development and good governance,” Barau said.

The Deputy Senate President also assured Tomas of fair treatment within the APC, adding that the party remains open to returning members and committed to equal opportunities for all.

He further expressed confidence that Tomas’ return would boost the party’s strength in Kano North and across Kano State.

In a post shared on his Facebook page, Barau said he was optimistic that the development would further consolidate the APC’s presence in the region.

Tomas’ defection comes after he recently lost the NDC ticket to contest for a second term in the Kano State House of Assembly, a decision that was reportedly reached through consensus within the party.

The lawmaker had earlier left the APC for the NDC, where he was received by party leaders, including Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, before returning to the ruling party.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, has predicted a landslide victory for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

Lawal made the remark while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, shortly after announcing his resignation from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in a post on his Facebook page.

The former SGF said he had decided to step away from active politics, citing dissatisfaction with the way politics is practised in Nigeria.

According to him, he would rather focus on other pursuits, including agriculture and church-related activities.

“I’ve just come to the conclusion that in Nigerian politics, everybody is… I don’t understand how it’s practised. I don’t know how it should be practised. Maybe there are some Nigerians who know to run their things. I don’t want to be part of anything again,” he said.

Lawal, who was a member of the opposition coalition that recently adopted the ADC as its political platform, argued that Tinubu would be difficult to defeat in the next election.

“Tinubu will win with landslide. If the parameter for winning the election in Nigeria is rigging, nobody can face Bola Tinubu.

“If Atiku’s strength is in manipulating results, he will meet the master leader in the front next year. And so they will be all the worse for it,” Lawal stated.

The former SGF also added that he won’t be supporting me Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC. He said didn’t want to be part of anything again.

“I won’t support Peter Obi. I don’t want to be part of anything again,” Lawal said.