How Buhari’s Aides Allegedly Used Forged Directives to Favor Ahmad Lawan in 2022 APC Primaries, Biography Reveals

A newly released biography of late President Muhammadu Buhari has shed light on a controversial episode surrounding the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries, alleging that some of his aides attempted to manipulate the outcome in favor of former Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

The book, *From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari*, authored by Dr. Charles Omole and unveiled yesterday at the Presidential Villa, claims that aides close to Buhari forged presidential directives in an effort to install Lawan as the APC’s consensus candidate.

According to the biography, on the eve of the primaries, these aides allegedly issued counterfeit orders to top security officials, including Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). The directives reportedly instructed the deployment of security forces to ensure Lawan’s emergence as the party’s candidate.

The book details how IGP Alkali Baba “rejected the orders outright, consulted his counterparts, and directly verified with Buhari.” Buhari, it says, categorically denied issuing any such instructions, asserting, “I have no preferred candidate. Nigerians must freely choose their leader. Security agencies must not interfere.”

Sources cited in the book also recounted Buhari’s reaction to news that celebrations had erupted in Lawan’s neighborhood over the supposed presidential endorsement. “He laughed when he heard about it and made it clear: he had not anointed anyone. Nigerians should choose for themselves, and the security agencies must not play a role in the selection,” the biography quotes close aides.