Dare Babalola
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has announced his resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alleging that the party’s recently concluded primaries were manipulated in favour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement issued on Monday, Lawal claimed that the primaries at all levels were “massively rigged” to ensure victories for candidates loyal to Atiku, whom he repeatedly referred to as “Kachalla Atiku.”
According to him, results were either written outright or altered to favour Atiku’s supporters, while individuals who emerged victorious in areas where elections were conducted were allegedly replaced by members of what he described as Atiku’s “syndicate.”
“I am exiting the ADC because its just concluded primaries were at all levels massively rigged in favour Kachalla Abubakar Atiku. Results were just written or rewritten to favour him and his coven. Even where they allowed some semblance of election to hold, the winners were simply replaced with members of his syndicate. In the real sense it was a disgraceful charade,” he said.
Lawal said his decision to leave the party was also informed by his refusal to participate in what he described as Atiku’s political machinery ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I do not intend to be part of Kachalla Atiku’s rigging machine in the 2027 general elections and I cannot avoid doing so if I remain in the party,” he stated.
The former SGF further launched a scathing attack on Atiku and his allies, accusing them of pursuing ethnic and religious domination. He argued that an Atiku presidency would be detrimental to Nigeria and suggested that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could ultimately perform better in office than the former vice president.
“I believe Tinubu might, comparatively speaking, end up a better Nigerian president than Kachalla Atiku could ever be, as bad as Tinubu currently is and possibly could ever be,” he said.
Lawal also expressed concern about what he described as the implications of an Atiku administration, claiming that his personal convictions would not allow him to support what he called “the evil that Atiku and his people represent.”
The former SGF criticised northern political leaders whom he accused of backing Atiku despite what he described as widespread poverty and insecurity in the region. He questioned the rationale behind supporting another northern presidential candidate, arguing that the region should instead seek leadership capable of reversing its economic and security challenges.
“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 like Kachalla Atiku,” he said.
Lawal disclosed that he would spend the coming weeks consulting with political associates on strategies to prevent Atiku from securing the presidency in 2027. He said he would temporarily retire to his village while observing developments in the political landscape.
“I will be tweaking my plans for the future and consulting with like-minded colleagues on how to stop this incompetent octogenarian from coming close to the presidential office,” he stated.
His resignation comes amid growing political realignments and heightened manoeuvring among opposition figures ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
