Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu will seek a third term in office if he remains alive and healthy enough to do so.
Lawal made the claim while criticising the state of Nigeria’s electoral system, arguing that the country’s elections were no longer free, fair and credible.
Speaking in an interview with Symfoni TV, the former SGF accused political parties of manipulating their primary elections and warned that similar practices could affect the 2027 general elections.
He expressed concern that continued manipulation of the electoral process could discourage Nigerians from participating in elections, leaving candidates to challenge disputed results in court.
“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,” Lawal said.
He predicted that widespread frustration over the electoral process could trigger protests, warning that the consequences could be severe.
“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,” he added.
Lawal also criticised the conduct of political party primaries, arguing that parties had failed to demonstrate that their internal elections were free and fair.
“They can deceive themselves that they are campaigning, every political party rigged their primaries, up till now they are still fighting. Everybody can’t beat their chest that we did a free and fair primary,” he said.
The former SGF subsequently alleged that President Tinubu would seek to remain in office beyond the constitutionally recognised two-term limit if given the opportunity.
“Bola Tinubu will go for a third term if God gives him the long life to do it,” Lawal said.
His comments come amid heightened political discussions ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process and the future ambitions of major political figures continuing to generate debate.
