Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alleging that the party’s recent presidential primary election was manipulated to favour former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Lawal announced his decision in a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Monday, saying he could no longer remain in a party whose internal democratic process had, in his view, lost credibility.
The former SGF accused the ADC leadership of conducting a flawed primary election and claimed that the outcome had been predetermined in favour of Atiku, who emerged as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
“I am exiting the ADC because its just concluded primaries were at all levels massively rigged in favour of Kachalla Abubakar Atiku,” Lawal said.
According to him, the process was neither transparent nor democratic, alleging that results were altered to favour Atiku and his supporters.
“Results were just written or rewritten to favour him and his coven. Even where they allowed some semblance of election to hold, the winners were simply replaced with members of his syndicate. In the real sense it was a disgraceful charade,” he stated.
Lawal said he was unwilling to continue associating with a political platform that, according to him, could conduct future elections in a similar manner.
His resignation adds a fresh twist to the controversy that has trailed the ADC presidential primary held on May 25, 2026.
The primary election attracted national attention because it featured several prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
At the end of the exercise, Atiku was declared the winner with 1,846,370 votes. Amaechi came second with 504,117 votes, while Hayatu-Deen finished third with 177,120 votes.
The result paved the way for Atiku to secure the ADC presidential ticket and position himself for another bid for Nigeria’s highest office in the 2027 elections.
However, the conduct of the primary has continued to generate debate within the party.
Even before the official announcement of the results, Hayatu-Deen publicly distanced himself from the process, raising concerns about alleged irregularities and questioning the credibility of the exercise.
The businessman had expressed fears that the process was being manipulated and warned that such actions could damage the party’s image.
Amaechi also reportedly raised concerns about aspects of the primary, alleging irregularities in the conduct of the election.
The complaints from some aspirants fuelled speculation that the outcome of the contest might face legal and political challenges.
However, recent developments suggest that some of the aggrieved aspirants may be seeking reconciliation in the interest of party unity.
Hayatu-Deen recently ruled out challenging the outcome of the primary after receiving a visit from Atiku. He said he had decided to place the broader objective of building a strong opposition coalition ahead of personal political ambitions.
His decision was seen by political observers as an effort to prevent further division within the party as preparations begin for the 2027 elections.
Lawal, however, has taken a different path by formally leaving the party.
The former SGF has been one of the prominent political figures opposed to Atiku’s presidential ambition in recent years. His latest remarks indicate that the disagreement between both politicians remains unresolved.
Although Lawal did not immediately announce his next political destination, he said he would consult with political associates and supporters before deciding on his future plans.
He also made it clear that his opposition to Atiku’s presidential bid remains unchanged.
Nigeria’s opposition landscape has witnessed several realignments since the 2023 elections, with politicians moving across party lines in search of stronger platforms and alliances capable of challenging the ruling party.
Atiku, who served as Vice President between 1999 and 2007, remains one of the country’s most experienced politicians and has contested for the presidency multiple times under different political parties.
His emergence as ADC presidential candidate is expected to shape discussions within opposition circles as political activities gradually intensify ahead of 2027.
The ADC leadership has yet to officially respond to Lawal’s allegations at the time of filing this report.
However, the controversy surrounding the primary is likely to continue generating debate within the party, especially as members work to consolidate support and prepare for future electoral contests.
For now, Lawal’s departure represents another sign of the internal tensions that have emerged following the party’s presidential primary.
Whether his exit will trigger further defections or remain an isolated protest remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly added a new dimension to the political conversation surrounding the ADC and its preparations for the next presidential election.