Confusion as Peter Obi endorsement divides Northern Christians

Some popular and prominent Northern Christian leaders in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has distanced themselves from Babachir Lawal's endorsement of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

The group which is led by Yakubu Dogara, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives said that the Northern leaders never agreed to endorse Peter Obi.

According to him, the endorsement of Obi was that of Lawal who is a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Recall that a few days ago, Lawal disclosed that the group after extensive consultation opted for the LP presidential candidate while vowing never to support the APC due to its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

They lamented that the ruling party could have picked a Northern Christian presidential running mate and not a Muslim.

However, a statement jointly signed by Dogara, Simon Achuba, Albert Atiwurcha, Prof Doknan Sheni, Mela Nunge (SAN), Gen. Ishaya Bauka (rtd), Prof Ibrahim Haruna, and Mrs Leah Olusiyi, dismissed the endorsement.

They said the group was yet to disclose its decision on who to endorse in 2023.

“We want to draw the attention of the general public to the recent position canvassed by our Chairman, B.D Lawal as the position of our group.

“We wish to state that necessary consultations have been concluded, and based on manifestly unassailable empirical data, the group is poised to adopt a position which will be made known to the public at an interfaith event to be held very soon.

“Suffice to say that no one in the group, including the chairman, has been mandated to speak to the public about our position at this material time. Based on our modus operandi, our position was meant to be presented to the general public at the event referred to above. That has not changed,” the group said.

NBA