Babachir Lawal has sparked outrage after a heated outburst on live TV.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, sparked controversy on Tuesday after engaging in a fiery exchange with a television anchor during a live interview on TVC News.
A now-viral clip from the program shows Lawal losing his temper and directing harsh words at the anchor, Nifemi Oguntoye, after being asked to compare the 2019 and 2023 electoral processes under former President Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent President Bola Tinubu.
“Give me a break, my friend. Shut up! What’s your problem?” Lawal snapped, visibly agitated.
The outburst came after Oguntoye remarked that there appeared to be no significant difference between the electoral processes of both elections, noting that both were conducted under APC-led administrations, the same party Lawal once served under.
“I didn’t see much difference. It’s the same electoral process in 2019 and 2023,” Oguntoye said. “It’s the same administration you served under…”
Lawal cut in abruptly, saying:
“Shut up! Shut up! Get out! Give me a break! How can you say Buhari’s electoral process is the same as Bola Tinubu’s? What’s your problem? The Tinubu government didn’t win the election.”
Despite the interruption, Oguntoye responded calmly, saying:
“I’ll take ‘get out’ because I’ve invited you to my house, but I’m just trying to have an intellectual conversation with you, Mr. Lawal.”
Babachir Lawal, appointed SGF by President Buhari in August 2015, was suspended in April 2017 and officially removed from office in October of the same year.
Recently, Lawal resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the new opposition coalition aiming to challenge and unseat President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
The incident has stirred debate on social media, with many criticizing Lawal’s tone and behavior, while others pointed to the deepening divisions within Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 race.