According to report by Vanguard on Monday, June 1, 2026, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has announced his resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing concerns over the conduct of the party’s recent primary elections.
In a statement released on Monday, Lawal alleged that the primaries were heavily manipulated to favour former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and individuals aligned with him.
According to the former SGF, the exercise lacked fairness and transparency, arguing that the outcome had been predetermined before delegates cast their votes.
Lawal claimed that the primary election process was deliberately structured to ensure the emergence of Atiku and his political associates as winners.
He described the exercise as “massively rigged,” maintaining that the party leadership failed to provide a level playing field for all aspirants who participated in the contest.
The former ADC chieftain expressed disappointment over what he viewed as a departure from democratic principles within the party.
He suggested that the actions of the party’s leadership undermined internal democracy and weakened confidence in the credibility of the electoral process.
His resignation marks a significant development within the ADC, especially as political parties continue to reposition ahead of future electoral contests.
Lawal’s exit is expected to fuel further debate over the conduct of the primaries and the allegations surrounding the selection process.
While the ADC has yet to issue a detailed response to the claims, Lawal insisted that his decision to leave the party was driven by his conviction that the primary election did not reflect the will of party members.
He maintained that the process had been compromised from the outset and accused party officials of orchestrating an outcome that favoured a particular political bloc.
The development adds another layer of controversy to the ADC’s internal affairs, with observers closely watching how the party responds to the allegations and whether the claims will trigger further reactions from stakeholders within its ranks.
