Breaking: Babachir Lawal quits ADC, alleges Atiku allies manipulated party primaries

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing alleged irregularities in the party’s recently concluded primary elections.

Lawal announced his resignation in a statement issued on Monday, accusing the party leadership of conducting what he described as heavily manipulated primaries designed to favour former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and his political associates.

According to the former SGF, the conduct of the primaries undermined the principles of fairness, transparency and internal democracy that should guide the selection of candidates in a democratic political party.

Lawal alleged that the exercise was “massively rigged,” claiming that the outcome had been predetermined in favour of candidates aligned with Atiku, thereby denying other aspirants a level playing field.

The former presidential adviser expressed disappointment with the process, arguing that the development had eroded confidence in the party’s commitment to democratic ideals and inclusive participation.

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His resignation represents a significant setback for the ADC, which has recently attracted prominent political figures and positioned itself as a potential platform for opposition realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While Lawal did not immediately announce his next political destination, his departure is expected to fuel further debate over the credibility of the party’s internal electoral processes and the growing influence of key political blocs within the ADC.

The former SGF has been an influential figure in Nigeria’s political landscape and has remained vocal on issues relating to governance, party politics and electoral reforms. His decision to leave the party comes amid heightened political activities and coalition-building efforts ahead of the next election cycle.

Lawal’s allegations have also placed the spotlight on the ADC leadership, which may face pressure to respond to the claims and reassure party members about the integrity of its internal democratic processes.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Atiku Abubakar nor the national leadership of the ADC had publicly responded to the allegations raised by the former SGF.

The latest development highlights the growing tensions within opposition political circles as parties continue to position themselves for the highly anticipated 2027 general elections.