{
  "id": 15182356,
  "title": "Buhari wanted Osinbajo as president, ex-spokesman counters Babachir Lawal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/buhari-wanted-osinbajo-as-president-ex-spokesman-counters-babachir-15182356",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T11:30:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/buhari-wanted-osinbajo-as-president-ex-spokesman-counters-babachir-lawal/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former spokesperson to former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, has refuted claims made by ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, regarding President Muhammadu Buhari's stance on Osinbajo's 2022 presidential ambition. Akande stated that Buhari offered to support Osinbajo's ambition on at least four occasions and publicly praised the way he campaigned for the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket. This contradicts Lawal's claims that Buhari would find Osinbajo's decision to challenge Tinubu immoral and distasteful, as Buhari would have been uncomfortable with Osinbajo challenging the politician who helped him enter national politics. Akande emphasized that Buhari's words and actions contradicted Lawal's account, and that he had firsthand knowledge of the relationship between Buhari and Osinbajo during their eight years together in office.",
  "summary": "A former spokesperson to Yemi Osinbajo says ex-President Buhari offered to support his 2022 presidential ambition, countering Babachir Lawal’s claims. Read More: https://punchng.com/buhari-wanted-osinbajo-as-president-ex-spokesman-counters-babachir-lawal/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Buhari wanted Osinbajo as president, ex-spokesman counters Babachir Lawal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/buhari-wanted-osinbajo-as-president-ex-spokesman-counters-babachir",
        "published": "2026-10-17T11:26:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}