Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has quit the African Democratic Congress. He announced his exit on Monday, June 1, 2026.
Lawal accused the party's primary election of widespread irregularities and manipulation. He claimed results were altered to benefit Atiku and his loyalists.
"I am exiting the ADC because its just concluded primaries were at all levels massively rigged in favour Kachalla Abubakar Atiku," Lawal stated in his resignation notice. According to him, a "conspiracy of silence" pervaded the party.
He alleged that winners at various levels were simply replaced with Atiku's preferred candidates. In his view, it amounted to a "disgraceful charade."
"Results were just written or rewritten to favour him and his coven," the ex-SGF noted. Even where elections were allowed to hold, he added, victors were sidelined.
Lawal said he couldn't stomach remaining in a party he believed was rigging elections. Staying would make him complicit in what he called Atiku's "rigging machine" for 2027.
Working to support Atiku, Lawal argued, would essentially hand President Tinubu a second term automatically. That prospect, he said, gave him "nightmares."
He expressed a troubling view of Nigeria's political choices ahead. Tinubu, despite his current failings, struck him as potentially better than Atiku could ever be.
"The choice in 2027 it seems will be a Morton's fork," Lawal wrote. He insisted his conscience wouldn't allow partnership with what he termed the "evil" Atiku represents.
Northern Nigeria, in his estimation, remains "perpetually doomed to self-harm." The region continues making destructive political decisions, he suggested.
Lawal vowed to work with like-minded colleagues to stop Atiku's presidential ambitions. He plans to strategize from his village farm going forward.
According to him, Tinubu's "ruthless and superior rigging machine" will ultimately defeat Atiku's efforts. He predicted the former vice president's chances would be "beaten to pulp."
Lawal dismissed Atiku as an "incompetent octogenarian" unfit for high office. He criticized the North for allegedly preferring religious hegemonists over qualified economic experts.
Most party members, Lawal observed, seemed indifferent to the alleged rigging. Their passive acceptance troubled him deeply.
His departure marks a significant blow to ADC's internal unity. It underscores growing tensions within the opposition party ahead of next year's elections.
