A fresh political rift has emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following the party’s presidential primary, as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, exchanged sharp words over the conduct of the exercise that produced Atiku as the party’s flag bearer for the 2027 election.
Atiku emerged victorious in the primary after polling 1,846,370 votes, defeating former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who secured 504,117 votes, and businessman-politician Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who received 177,120 votes.
Lawal, a former ADC chieftain and prominent opposition figure, announced his resignation from the party on Monday, accusing its leadership of manipulating the primary process in favour of Atiku.
According to him, the election was heavily compromised, alleging that results were altered and candidates replaced with individuals loyal to the former vice president.
He described the exercise as a “disgraceful charade,” claiming that genuine democratic principles were ignored and warning that supporting Atiku’s presidential ambition would ultimately hand President Bola Tinubu an easier path to a second term in office.
Lawal also said he could no longer remain silent over what he described as a conspiracy within the party, insisting that he would not be part of any political arrangement built on electoral manipulation.
Reacting to the allegations, Atiku’s camp dismissed the claims as baseless and lacking evidence.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku maintained that the primary reflected the wishes of ADC members across the country.
The statement challenged Lawal to provide proof of his allegations, insisting that he had presented no documents, witnesses or verifiable facts to support claims of rigging.
Atiku’s camp further accused Lawal of double standards, noting that he appeared comfortable with the outcome of the same primary process in Adamawa State, where his relative, Omar Suleiman, emerged as the party’s governorship candidate.
The former vice president’s team also revisited controversies surrounding Lawal’s tenure as SGF, including the widely publicised grass-cutting contract scandal that led to his removal from office in 2017.
According to Shaibu, Lawal’s criticism stemmed more from dissatisfaction with the outcome than genuine concern for internal democracy.
He argued that democracy guarantees participation but not victory, adding that political actors should not condemn a process simply because it failed to produce their preferred candidate.
The statement further accused Lawal of resorting to ethnic and religious sentiments in his criticisms, insisting that the 2027 election would be decided by Nigerians based on issues of governance, security and economic performance.
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Meanwhile, third-placed presidential aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has ruled out any legal challenge against the outcome of the primary despite previously raising concerns about alleged irregularities.
In a statement titled “My Campaign, the Silent Majority and the Future of Our Democracy,” Hayatu-Deen said he had chosen party unity and the broader objective of building a strong opposition over personal political ambition.
He acknowledged that the conduct of the primary did not meet his expectations and said he had privately communicated his concerns to party leaders.
However, after consultations with supporters and stakeholders, he decided not to pursue the matter in court.
According to him, Nigeria needs a credible and united opposition more than prolonged internal disputes.
Hayatu-Deen said he joined the ADC because he believed it could provide an alternative political platform founded on integrity, internal democracy and national renewal.
Although disappointed by the outcome, he expressed gratitude to his supporters and urged them not to abandon the ideals that inspired his campaign.
He stressed that while his presidential bid had ended, the broader struggle for a better Nigeria remained ongoing and worthy of continued commitment.
