Former SGF Babachir Lawal has come out swinging against Atiku Abubakar’s latest presidential move, and he did not mince words — likening the former Vice President’s new political vehicle to a bargain-bin item from the popular Chinese discount platform, TEMU.
In what Nigerians on social media are already calling a certified drag, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has openly mocked Atiku Abubakar’s decision to pursue the presidency under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) — and the comparison he used? Let’s just say it landed like a market woman’s slap.
Babachir, never one to hold back, described the move as nothing short of a “cheap product from TEMU” — a reference to the Chinese e-commerce giant known for selling suspiciously affordable goods that often leave buyers wondering what exactly they ordered.
For those who may not be familiar, TEMU has become a cultural shorthand across Nigeria and beyond for products that look good in the picture but arrive… interesting in person. So when Babachir reached for that particular analogy, Nigerians knew exactly what he meant.
What Is Atiku Even Doing?
The former Vice President, who has contested for the Nigerian presidency more times than most people have changed their generators, is reportedly positioning himself under the ADC platform — a move that has raised more than a few eyebrows across the political landscape.
Many political watchers are questioning the strategy. The PDP, which Atiku has long been associated with, remains a major force in opposition politics. So why ADC? That is the question on everyone’s lips — from Abuja to Aba, from Kano to Lagos Island.
Babachir Fires His Shot
Babachir Lawal, who himself has been a prominent voice in northern Nigerian politics, did not hold back his criticism. By invoking the TEMU comparison, he essentially questioned both the credibility of the platform and the seriousness of the ambition — suggesting that this latest presidential outing looks more like a flash sale item than a genuine, well-packaged political movement.
It is worth noting that Babachir and Atiku have not always been on the same political page, and this latest salvo only deepens what many see as a widening rift among northern political elites ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Nigerians React
As expected, social media — Nigeria’s most active political arena — had a field day with the TEMU comparison. Twitter (now X) users, Facebook commenters, and WhatsApp group administrators across the country ran with the joke, with many adding their own versions:
– “Atiku wey don campaign pass Dangote’s cement trucks”
– “The man don contest so many times, e don become a subscription service”
– “TEMU product — arrive broken, no return policy”
The Bigger Picture
Beyond the jokes and the banter, Babachir’s comments point to a deeper anxiety within Nigerian opposition politics. With 2027 already casting its long shadow over the political landscape, the scramble for relevance, platforms, and alliances is intensifying.
Whether Atiku’s ADC move is a masterstroke or a miscalculation remains to be seen. But one thing is clear — in the court of Nigerian public opinion, first impressions matter. And being compared to a TEMU product is not exactly the brand positioning any presidential hopeful dreams of.
As they say in Nigeria: the market is open, but not every seller goes home with profit.
Stay with us for continued coverage of Nigeria’s evolving 2027 political landscape.
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