By Ghazali Ibrahim
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has resigned his membership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing dissatisfaction with the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.
Lawal announced his decision on Monday, alleging that the ADC presidential primary was manipulated in favour of Atiku. He claimed the outcome of the exercise had been predetermined and described the process as unfair.
The former SGF said he could not support what he termed a “rigging machine” ahead of the 2027 presidential election, stressing that he would not be part of any political arrangement designed to influence the electoral process.
Lawal also launched a scathing attack on Atiku, questioning his suitability for Nigeria’s highest office. He accused the former vice president of lacking the competence required to lead the country and alleged that his political outlook was driven by ethnic and religious considerations.
In a surprising twist, Lawal suggested that President Bola Tinubu remains a better option than Atiku, despite his previous criticisms of the current administration.
His resignation marks another setback for the ADC as political alignments continue to shift ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party has yet to officially respond to Lawal’s claims regarding the conduct of its presidential primary.
