By Paul Daniel l June 1, 2026
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The internal crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) escalated on Monday as former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, announced his resignation from the party, alleging that its recently concluded primary elections were manipulated in favour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Lawal made the announcement in a public statement, declaring that he could no longer remain in a party whose primary election process he described as fundamentally compromised. The former SGF claimed that the elections were “massively rigged” to ensure Atiku’s emergence as the ADC’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Explaining his decision to leave the party, Lawal said he was unwilling to be associated with what he described as a political structure designed to perpetuate electoral malpractice. He argued that remaining in the ADC would amount to endorsing a process he fundamentally disagreed with.
The former SGF did not stop at criticizing the conduct of the primaries. In his statement, he also launched a broader attack on Atiku and some of his political allies, accusing them of pursuing narrow political interests rather than building an inclusive opposition platform capable of challenging the ruling party.
Lawal’s departure represents another setback for the ADC, which has faced growing internal tensions following the emergence of Atiku as its presidential flagbearer. The party has recently grappled with leadership disputes, factional disagreements, and allegations of irregularities surrounding its internal processes.
The resignation is particularly significant given Lawal’s influence within northern political circles and his role in opposition coalition discussions ahead of the 2027 elections. Political observers say his exit could further complicate efforts to maintain unity within the ADC as it seeks to position itself as a major challenger in the next presidential contest.
Atiku, who emerged victorious in the party’s presidential primary, has repeatedly called for unity among party members and opposition stakeholders. However, Lawal’s allegations are likely to intensify scrutiny of the primary process and fuel further debate within the party about its internal democratic practices.
As of the time of this report, there was no official response from Atiku’s camp addressing Lawal’s latest allegations. The ADC leadership has also yet to issue a detailed statement regarding the resignation.
With preparations for the 2027 general elections already gaining momentum, Lawal’s departure adds another layer of uncertainty to Nigeria’s evolving opposition landscape and raises fresh questions about the cohesion of political alliances seeking to challenge the ruling establishment.