Malam Lawal Batagarawa, former Minister of State for Defence and one of the founding members of the PDP, now a senior figure in the ADC, shares insights on the 2027 election, party dynamics, governance, and Tinubu’s chances.
Batagarawa admits court disputes over recognized ADC leadership have been a distraction.
“You’d rather channel energy into building the party and mobilising support, but these legal battles pull you away,” he says.
Asked about allegations that the current government is behind the court cases, Batagarawa remains cautious but firm: “When a party poses a real threat, those in power may seek to destabilize it through legal or political means. It’s not surprising.”
On the government borrowing tactics he once criticized, Batagarawa warns that current policies are failing the public.
“This administration is underperforming in security, in governance: it’s obvious to all unbiased observers.”
While governors, legislators and local powerbrokers are rallying around Tinubu, Batagarawa says ADC remains undeterred.
“They can make all the loud statements they want. On election day, what counts is organisation, strategy, and connection with the people.”
With prominent former politicians in ADC, Atiku, Peter Obi, El-Rufai and more concerns arise about managing strong personalities. Batagarawa sees diversity as an advantage.
“Nigeria is diverse. If we don’t manage debates, conflicts, and ambitions properly, we can’t lead the country.”
Highlighting one of the government’s biggest failings, Batagarawa links insecurity to economic distress and failed policy direction.
He calls for a dual approach: suppress violence (kinetic) and prevent new recruits to crime (non-kinetic) through community inclusion.
“You can’t separate security from livelihood,” he insists.
Asked about opposition plans, Batagarawa declines full disclosure but insists there’s a strong strategy in place.
Smarter politics, he says, involve groundwork more than flashy posturing.
Batagarawa strongly disputes the administration’s economic claims.
“Subsidy removal and currency devaluation have pushed the economy into a tailspin. Everything they boast about has hurt ordinary Nigerians,” he charges.
