Babachir Lawal Quits ADC, Alleges Atiku’s Primary Victory Was Rigged

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has announced his resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing alleged irregularities in the party’s recently concluded presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate.

Lawal disclosed his decision in a statement shared on his official Facebook page on Monday, stating that he could no longer remain in a party whose primary election process he believed lacked credibility.

Explaining his resignation, Lawal alleged that the party’s primary election was manipulated in favour of Atiku.

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

The former SGF further claimed that election results were altered to favour Atiku and his supporters, adding that even where voting reportedly took place, the eventual winners were allegedly replaced.

“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. In the real sense it was a disgraceful charade,” he said.

Lawal noted that his departure from the party was also driven by his reluctance to remain associated with a political structure he believes could influence future elections in a manner he considers unacceptable.

The resignation follows ongoing controversy surrounding the ADC presidential primary held on May 25, 2026, which saw Atiku emerge as the party’s presidential candidate.

According to the official results, Atiku secured 1,846,370 votes to win the contest, while former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, came second with 504,117 votes. Businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen finished third with 177,120 votes.

The primary process had attracted criticism from some contestants. Before the results were announced, Hayatu-Deen publicly distanced himself from the exercise, raising concerns over alleged vote manipulation and the integrity of the process.

Amaechi also questioned the conduct of the primary, citing alleged irregularities.

However, after a recent meeting with Atiku Abubakar, Hayatu-Deen ruled out challenging the outcome of the election. He said he chose party unity and the broader goal of building a strong opposition platform ahead of future elections over pursuing personal political interests.

Lawal, meanwhile, stated that he would consult with political allies before deciding on his next political move, while maintaining his opposition to Atiku’s presidential ambition.