Babachir Lawal Quits ADC, Alleges Presidential Primary Was Massively Rigged for Atiku

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has resigned his membership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alleging that the party’s presidential primary was “massively rigged” in favour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

In a resignation letter addressed to the ADC chairman in his ward, Lawal described the primary exercise as a “disgraceful charade” and vowed to work against Atiku’s 2027 presidential ambition.

“I am exiting the ADC because its just concluded primaries were at all levels massively rigged in favour of Kachalla Abubakar Atiku,” Lawal wrote.

“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.”

The former SGF added: “I did not join the ADC to make Nigeria progressively worse so my beliefs and conscience won’t allow me partner with the evil that Atiku and his people represent.”

Atiku was declared winner of the ADC presidential primary on May 25 with over 1.8 million votes. However, the outcome was immediately contested by two other aspirants — former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen — who rejected the collated results and shunned the announcement.

Hayatu-Deen later ruled out challenging the primary outcome in court, while Amaechi has remained critical of the process. This week, Atiku embarked on reconciliation visits to both men in Abuja and Lagos respectively, as reported by The Nation.

Lawal’s resignation represents the most direct defection from the ADC since the primary, signalling deepening cracks within the party barely seven months before the January 2027 presidential election.

The development also contrasts sharply with the ongoing fence-mending efforts by the ADC leadership, who have insisted the party is united ahead of the general election.

Sources: Punch, Daily Trust