Babachir Lawal quits ADC, alleges presidential primaries were rigged for Atiku

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, has resigned his membership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, alleging that the party’s recently concluded primaries were manipulated in favour of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and his political allies.

Mr Lawal announced his resignation in a statement issued on Monday, in which he expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the party’s primary elections, describing the process as neither transparent nor democratic.

According to him, the primaries were “massively rigged” to ensure the emergence of candidates preferred by the party leadership and influential stakeholders aligned with Atiku.

The former SGF said his decision to leave the party followed extensive consultations with his supporters and political associates across the country.

“I can no longer remain in a party where the principles of fairness, internal democracy and equal opportunity have been sacrificed for the ambitions of a few individuals,” Mr Lawal said.

He alleged that genuine contestants were denied a level playing field, while party structures and processes were manipulated to predetermine the outcome of the primaries.

Mr Lawal further claimed that several complaints and concerns raised by party members before and during the exercise were ignored by the leadership of the party.

The former SGF, who has been a prominent figure in opposition politics, said the developments within the ADC had undermined the confidence of many party faithful who joined the party in the hope of building a credible alternative political platform.

He accused the party leadership of abandoning the ideals upon which the ADC was founded, warning that the alleged irregularities could weaken the party’s prospects in future elections.

While announcing his resignation, Mr Lawal did not immediately disclose his next political destination but said he would continue consultations with like-minded Nigerians committed to strengthening democratic governance and promoting credible leadership.

The ADC has yet to officially respond to the allegations made by the former SGF.

The resignation is expected to trigger fresh political discussions within opposition circles, particularly given Lawal’s influence among key political actors in northern Nigeria and his recent involvement in coalition efforts ahead of the 2027 general election.

Observers say the development could deepen divisions within the ADC at a time when opposition parties are seeking to consolidate their ranks in preparation for future electoral contests.