Atiku is too full of himself, he wants to be called Mr President despite never having become one — Babachir Lawal

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of wanting to be addressed as “Mr President” despite never having occupied the office before.

Lawal made the remarks while speaking on the JKD Media Podcast, where he spoke on different issues including comparing the length of Atiku’s convoy with that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“He is too full of himself. Atiku always wants people to call him Mr President, even though he will never be one, and Atiku’s convoy is longer than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s,” Lawal said.

“Everything must be him. He must give it to you at his own wish. It must be in his house. 

The latest comments therefore form part of an ongoing political disagreement between Lawal and Atiku as political alignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election continue. 

Lawal resigned from the ADC in June 2026, alleging that the party’s presidential primary had been manipulated in favour of Atiku. He said he did not want to remain in a political platform he believed could be used as a “rigging machine” in the 2027 elections.

Lawal has since continued to criticise Atiku’s presidential ambition. In September 2026, he joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), several months after leaving the ADC.