Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, has hinted that President Bola Tinubu will contest for a third term if God spares his life.

Lawal disclosed this while insisting that elections are no longer free, fair, and credible in Nigeria.

In an interview with Symponi TV, the former SGF also accused political parties of rigging their primary elections, stressing that the same would happen during the 2027 elections.

He said: “They would allow you to go to polling units pretending that INEC would do some bojuboju and announce the result that has already been handed over to them, I think that’s the end.

“The problem would now be the reaction of the people to that. My own assessment is that every Nigerian should just remain in his house while candidates would go to their courts and SANs’ would collect billions of naira, improvise them further and that’s the end.

“Nigerians would succumb to what we used to say in the military that with one bullet in your rifle you can get one thousand people to surrender because nobody wants to take that one bullet as every Nigerian would just go home and sleep as a lot of people will not come home that day but after the election they would come out to protest.

“They can deceive themselves that they are campaigning, every political parties rigged their primaries, up till now they are still fighting, they are still fighting as everybody can’t beat their chest that we did a free and fair primaries. Bola Tinubu will go for a third term if God gives him the long life to do it.”

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Abeokuta South State Constituency II, Adeoye Adewale Adeniran, has said the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State should not be decided by political popularity or financial influence, but by credibility, honesty, competence and commitment to public service.

Adeoye made the call at the weekend while addressing PDP members in Ward 14, Onikolobo, urging voters to look beyond billboards, rallies and vote-buying.

He asserted that Ogun residents must examine the character and track record of those seeking to lead the state, referencing recent concerns raised by the party’s senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, Iyabo Obasanjo.

Recall that Obasanjo had questioned the integrity of APC governorship candidate, Solomon Adeola, aka Yayi.

Adeoye said the assertion that Adeola “lacks integrity” and “breaks trust” should not be dismissed as ordinary political rhetoric but treated as a serious concern raised by someone who had first-hand political dealings with him.

He also argued that the allegations should be viewed alongside the controversies surrounding the 2026 Federal Budget, where several civil society organisations, policy analysts and opposition voices questioned alleged budget padding, off-mandate projects, duplication of allocations and constituency projects inserted into agencies outside their statutory responsibilities.

“The people of Ogun must pay close attention when an experienced public servant like Senator Iyabo Obasanjo raises concerns about character and integrity. These are not issues that should be dismissed with kid gloves or viewed as mere campaign exchanges.

” Leadership begins with character and integrity remains the foundation upon which public trust is built,” Adeoye stated.

The PDP candidate linked the debate to national governance, citing public concerns over the 2026 Federal Budget and the role of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

“As chairman of that committee, Senator Adeola occupied a position that determines how Nigerians’ money is spent. Anytime questions are raised about transparency in budgeting, citizens deserve clear answers,” he stated.

Adeoye argued that elections determined by money and popularity have produced leaders who fail to deliver, saying “We cannot continue to recycle people who are causing our pains. Ogun people deserve leaders whose promises can be trusted and whose records show consistency.”

He argued that the party’s governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, is as an example of service-driven leadership, citing his humanitarian interventions and community development projects across Ogun as verifiable proof of commitment.

Adeoye however, pledged to champion legislation that prioritizes the people, urging voters across Abeokuta South and the entire state to resist vote-selling.

“Money given today will cost us dearly tomorrow. 2027 must be about competence, honesty and service. Character is not negotiable if we want a better Ogun,” he added.

Ahead of the 2027 elections, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Dele Momodu, has declared that the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is not the preferred choice of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Momodu said indications are showing that Obasanjo is favourably disposed towards the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Speaking on News Central TV on Monday, the former presidential candidate also disclosed that Atiku will be President if he is destined to be.

The veteran journalist also said the outcome of the 2027 presidential election would be determined by Nigerians’ assessment of the All Progressives Congress, APC, administration’s performance rather than divisions within the opposition.

He said: “The truth here is that President Obasanjo never prosecuted Atiku, we all knew what led to their beef. It’s a political season and everybody has their strategies and from what I have read and heard from impeccable sources it’s obvious that Obasanjo might be supporting former governor Peter Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.

“I read somewhere yesterday where my friend, Osuntokun said Obasanjo is the main sponsor of that ticket. If Atiku is destined to be President of Nigeria, no force will be able to stop it.

“So we are watching and it’s obvious that Atiku is not Obasanjo’s favourite candidate, I thought the issue has been laid to rest in 2019 because there is a video in circulation where Obasanjo described Atiku as the President to be, so I don’t know what resurrected that bitter feud between both of them.”