By Vincent Egunyanga and David Lawani, Abuja
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has declared that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is not a better political option than President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He stated this when he announced his resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over alleged manipulation of the party’s presidential primary.
Lawal, a former ally of ex-president Muhammadu Buhari, accused the ADC leadership of conducting a “massively rigged” presidential primary designed to favour Atiku and his loyalists.
In a statement issued on Monday, the former SGF alleged that the exercise lacked transparency and credibility, claiming that results were either written or altered to ensure Atiku’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate.
“I am exiting the ADC because its concluded primaries were at all levels massively rigged in favour of Kachalla Abubakar Atiku,” Lawal stated.
“Results were just written or rewritten to favour him and his coven. Even where they allowed some semblance of an election to proceed, the winners were replaced by members of his syndicate. In the real sense, it was a disgraceful charade,” he added.
Lawal said he could no longer remain in a political platform where democratic principles had allegedly been compromised, warning that such a structure could not be trusted to conduct credible elections in the future.
He also vowed not to associate himself with what he described as Atiku’s “rigging machine” ahead of the 2027 general election.
The former SGF launched a direct attack on Atiku’s leadership credentials, describing the former vice president as incapable of addressing the nation’s worsening economic and security challenges.
According to him, northern political actors backing Atiku were not prioritising competence and national stability, insisting that Nigerians deserved a more capable leader.
“I would have thought that when Northerners insist on a northern president, they would be thinking of one that will stop the downward spiral into poverty and insecurity, not an ineptocrat,” he said.
Lawal also accused Atiku of promoting divisive politics along ethnic and religious lines, arguing that such tendencies should not be rewarded with national leadership.
Despite expressing dissatisfaction with some aspects of Tinubu’s administration, Lawal maintained that the President remained more politically powerful and electable than Atiku ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
According to him, Atiku’s emergence as the ADC presidential candidate would ultimately strengthen Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term in office.
The former ADC chieftain further disclosed that he would temporarily withdraw from active partisan politics and return to farming while consulting with political associates on his next political move.
He said his decision to quit the party was based on conscience and on his disappointment with what he considered the ADC’s failure to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative political platform.
*Exercise valid, says Atiku
However, Atiku dismissed the allegations of manipulation, insisting that the ADC presidential primary was free, transparent and reflected the wishes of party members across the country.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president rejected Lawal’s allegations as baseless and unsupported by evidence.
Shaibu maintained that the presidential primary was conducted across thousands of wards nationwide and produced a clear outcome based on party members’ participation.
He challenged Lawal to provide verifiable proof of the alleged irregularities, insisting that no documents, witnesses or credible evidence had been presented to substantiate the claims.
Atiku’s camp also accused the former SGF of rejecting the outcome because it did not favour his political interest.
The statement further referenced controversies surrounding Lawal’s 2017 removal from office over allegations linked to the Presidential Initiative on the North-East, allegations the former SGF has repeatedly denied.
According to Atiku’s aide, Lawal resorted to divisive rhetoric after failing to influence the outcome of the party’s presidential primary.
“Internal democracy must be respected. Political contests do not guarantee victory for every participant,” the statement said.
The former vice president’s camp insisted that the outcome of the ADC presidential primary remained valid and would not be altered by post-election grievances or political disputes.
