Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | by DAILY MENTOR NEWS
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has claimed that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, was bitterly disappointed after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election.
Wike revealed that Lawal visited him at his Port Harcourt residence shortly after the vice-presidential announcement, visibly upset because he had expected to be Tinubu’s deputy.
“After President Tinubu chose Shettima as his VP, Babachir Lawal came to my house in Port Harcourt. He was angry because he thought the president would pick him as vice president,” Wike said during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The revelation comes amid broader political tensions surrounding the 2023 election and internal dynamics within the All Progressives Congress (APC). Lawal, who has become a vocal critic of President Tinubu’s administration, reportedly felt sidelined by the running mate decision.
Wike also defended Tinubu against claims that his government is unapproachable, stressing that governance requires teamwork with ministers and advisers being accessible to Nigerians.
He addressed criticisms from opposition figures, including remarks targeting Rotimi Amaechi’s anti-corruption promises, highlighting Amaechi’s past governance controversies.
The story underscores the complex political landscape following the 2023 election and sets the stage for ongoing rivalries ahead of the 2027 polls.