By Paul Joseph
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing the party leadership of manipulating its recently concluded primary elections in favour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Lawal announced his departure in a Facebook post titled “The Kachalla Series Part 1,” where he alleged that the primaries were marred by widespread irregularities and predetermined outcomes designed to secure Atiku’s emergence.
According to him, election results at various levels were allegedly altered to favour Atiku and his supporters, while candidates who emerged through the voting process were replaced by individuals aligned with the former vice president.
“I am exiting the ADC because its just concluded primaries were at all levels massively rigged in favour of Kachalla Abubakar Atiku,” Lawal stated.
The former SGF said he could not remain in a party that, in his view, would make him part of what he described as Atiku’s political machinery ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Lawal also launched a blistering attack on Atiku and some of his political allies, accusing them of pursuing ethnic and religious domination. He further argued that backing Atiku’s presidential ambition would effectively hand President Bola Ahmed Tinubu an easier path to re-election.
Despite being critical of the current administration, Lawal claimed that Tinubu could still perform better as president than Atiku if Nigerians were forced to choose between the two politicians in 2027.
He also criticised northern political leaders whom he accused of facilitating Atiku’s emergence despite worsening poverty and insecurity across northern Nigeria.
Announcing a temporary withdrawal from frontline politics, Lawal said he would return to his village to consult with political associates and strategise on how to prevent Atiku from securing the presidency.
The former SGF predicted that Atiku and his supporters would ultimately be defeated by Tinubu’s political structure in the next general election.
Lawal’s resignation adds to growing controversy surrounding the ADC primaries and comes amid complaints from some aspirants who have questioned the conduct of the party’s internal electoral process.
Among those who reportedly raised concerns were former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and former banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who alleged irregularities during the exercise.
As of the time of reporting, neither Atiku nor the ADC leadership had publicly responded to Lawal’s allegations.
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