A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has revealed that the National Political Consultative Group (North) has embraced the African Democratic Congress as its preferred opposition platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections.

Lawal, an ADC chieftain, stated this on Saturday while briefing the press at the end of the 3rd Expanded Meeting of the National Political Consultative Group (North), held at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel (formerly Sheraton).

Chairman of the NPCG (North, Lawal said Northerners are determined to elect a leader that caters for their interests.

The NPCG (North), which last convened on May 26, aims to foster unity among Northern political leaders and strengthen collaboration to function as a cohesive interest group, ideally within a single political party.

On July 1, key opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party?s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, APC?s 2023 presidential aspirant Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai launched the ADC as a unified opposition platform to confront Tinubu in 2027.

Although former Senate President David Mark and former Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola were appointed as the party?s interim National Chairman and Secretary, respectively, and a few Nigerians have since aligned with the party, leaders of the ADC continue to make efforts to secure the buy-in of the North and other regions.

The former SGF noted that representatives from all 19 Northern states reached a consensus that President Tinubu?s administration is not committed to addressing the region?s concerns.

He stated, ?Well, the truth of the matter is that we started out as what we call a Consultative Forum for Northern politicians, but as the momentum was going on, it appears that the whole of the North has decided that they will join ADC.

?So now the distinction between what the National Political Consultative Group is and the ADC has blurred. So our people have encouraged us, have directed us, and have mandated us to organize ourselves in the manner that we deliver whatever we want through the ADC.

?It?s a meeting of Northerners, specifically to discuss as a family the problems of the devil in the North and how to look for solutions to it, how to prepare for the oncoming future, to see to the fact that our interests?we elect only somebody who has the interests of the North at heart and who will address the challenges facing the North.

?Because as it is, we are of the opinion that this government has no interest in solving problems confronting the North?be it infrastructure, be it economy, be it security. So we have to take the ball in our hands and work towards achieving solutions to our problems.?

He said Northern stakeholders agreed to mobilize and spread their message to unite the people and adopt a common position for the next election.

Former SGF continued, ?There?s insecurity, there?s economic deprivation, there?s marginalization, there?s everything that is designed to humble us, designed to disintegrate us, designed to underdevelop us. But, we have resolved to enlighten our people and get needed support to tackle these challenges.

?The ADC as a political party is a party that is founded on democratic principles. And it is our party. We are going to go to conduct congresses and conventions to elect our representatives at the election.

?And whoever emerges?be it North, South, Central, West?whoever emerges at either the congresses or at the convention, ADC will support it, and the Northern Political Consultative Group will support that decision.

On whether votes will count in 2027bor not, Lawal said, ?I don?t believe no one in ADC leadership or rank and file believes that votes do not count. Votes do count. And we are going to make sure that votes do count. This election, votes will count.

?I tell you, forget about this fear that votes will not count. APC is a party of Nigerians. ADC is one. Whatever techniques, whatever malicious activity they throw at us, we?ll counter it effectively. And we?ll counter and defeat them at it.? (The PUNCH)

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