Muslim-Muslim Ticket: PDP, LP to benefit as Dogara, Lawal set to dump APC

Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and ex-Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara are likely to dump the ruling All Progressives Congress over their displeasure with the party's Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Speaking in an interview with The Punch on Tuesday, September 27, he said no decision has been made yet but they are considering joining another party.

The duo who are chieftains of the APC have been criticizing the party since it settled for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket for the 2023 elections.

Lawal and Dogara recently vowed to mobilise Northern Christians to reject the Tinubu/Shettima joint ticket.

According to the former SGF, their agitation against Tinubu/Shettima ticket is not personal, adding that their rejection of the ticket was a representation of the wish of Nigerians who are demanding “demanding for fair and equitable representation.”

“What we are doing is for the sake of Nigeria. Of the 18 political parties in the country, we are talking to the Peoples Democratic Party, the Labour Party, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party. It is only the APC that has rejected us; the other 17 parties have not. So, those three are in the foreground of our discussion for now, but no decision has been taken," he said.

Lawal added that the fact that MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe ran on the same-faith ticket in 1993 is not sufficient for the APC to replicate it for the 2023 general election, Daily Post wrote.

He said, “Yes, Abiola and Kingibe did it but was the election not annulled? Have these people bothered to find out why the election was annulled? I am a member of the APC but we are the voices of those who have been mistreated. Since it is too late to form our party now, we are evaluating the options before us.

He further disclosed that they were listening to political parties that are receptive to them, adding that they were already in talks with some parties.

NBA