Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has resigned from the African Democratic Congress, alleging that the party’s recent primary election was manipulated to favour former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Monday, Lawal said he could no longer remain in the party after what he described as a “massively rigged” primary process. He alleged that the exercise was deliberately skewed to ensure Atiku’s emergence and the success of candidates aligned with him.
According to the former SGF, the primaries lacked transparency and fairness, with key stakeholders allegedly sidelined during the process. He claimed that in some cases, results were altered or rewritten in favour of preferred candidates, while individuals who emerged victorious were replaced with allies of Atiku.
Lawal described the exercise as a “disgraceful charade” and said his resignation was motivated by his refusal to be associated with what he called a political structure capable of influencing future elections through manipulation. He added that he would consult with political associates on his next move while continuing to oppose Atiku’s presidential ambition.
The development marks a fresh setback for the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections, coming amid ongoing internal disputes and leadership challenges within the opposition party. Lawal had been one of the prominent political figures linked with the party’s coalition efforts before his exit.
As of the time of reporting, neither the ADC leadership nor Atiku’s camp had issued a detailed response to the allegations, although the claims have already triggered reactions across political circles.
