THE Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing concerns over the party’s recently concluded presidential primary, which produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its flagbearer.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page today, Lawal said he could no longer remain in a party whose primary election process he believes lacked credibility.
He alleged that the exercise was heavily skewed in favour of Atiku and claimed that results were manipulated to benefit the former vice president and his supporters.
According to Lawal, outcomes were allegedly altered in several areas, while individuals who emerged victorious in some contests were reportedly replaced by candidates aligned with Atiku. He described the entire process as a “charade” and said it failed to reflect the will of party members.
The former SGF added that his decision to leave the ADC was also driven by his reluctance to be associated with a political structure he believes could influence future elections in a similar manner.
Lawal’s resignation follows the ADC presidential primary held on May 25, 2026, where Atiku was declared winner with 1,846,370 votes. Former Rotimi Amaechi finished second with 504,117 votes, while businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen came third with 177,120 votes.
The primary had attracted criticism from some aspirants. Before the announcement of the final results, Hayatu-Deen distanced himself from the process, expressing concerns about alleged vote manipulation and the credibility of the exercise.
Amaechi also raised questions about the conduct of the primary, pointing to what he described as irregularities.
Despite his reservations, Hayatu-Deen later revealed that he would not challenge the outcome following a meeting with Atiku. He stated that maintaining party unity and strengthening the opposition ahead of future elections took precedence over personal political ambitions.
Lawal said he would now consult with political allies to determine his next move, while maintaining his opposition to Atiku’s presidential bid.
