The Presidency has reacted to the resignation of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the development as a significant setback for the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said Lawal’s departure amounted to a strong rejection of both Atiku and the ADC leadership.
In a post shared on X on Monday, Onanuga suggested that the former SGF’s resignation exposed deep divisions within the opposition party following its recently concluded primary elections.
“Babachir David Lawal just handed Atiku Abubakar and his captured ADC a stinging rebuke, along with a bitter divorce,” Onanuga wrote while reposting Lawal’s resignation statement.
Lawal had earlier announced on Facebook that he was leaving the ADC over what he described as widespread irregularities and manipulation during the party’s primary elections. According to him, the conduct of the primaries fell short of democratic standards and undermined the credibility of the party’s internal processes.
The former SGF alleged that election results at various levels were altered to favour Atiku and his loyalists. He further claimed that some aspirants who legitimately won their contests were replaced by individuals aligned with the former vice-president.
Lawal said he could not remain in a political party that, in his view, had adopted what he termed a “rigging machine” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Beyond concerns over the primaries, Lawal also criticised Atiku and some of his political allies, accusing them of pursuing ethnic and religious interests rather than a broader national agenda. He argued that Atiku’s emergence as the ADC presidential candidate could ultimately strengthen the re-election prospects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
The former SGF also took aim at northern political leaders and delegates who backed Atiku’s candidacy, questioning their decision at a time when the region continues to grapple with economic hardship and security challenges.
Lawal’s resignation adds to the growing tensions within the ADC following its presidential primary and could raise fresh questions about unity within the opposition coalition as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
The ADC has yet to issue an official response to Lawal’s allegations, whileAtiku has not publicly commented on the claims contained in the former SGF’s resignation statement.
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