JUST- IN: Babachir Lawal Quits ADC, Alleges Primary Was Rigged for Atiku

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alleging that the party’s recently concluded primaries were manipulated to favour former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and his associates.

In a statement issued on Monday, Lawal described the exercise as “massively rigged,” claiming that the process was deliberately skewed to ensure the emergence of Atiku and candidates aligned with him.

The former SGF said his decision to leave the party was informed by what he described as a lack of transparency and fairness in the conduct of the primaries.

According to him, the exercise fell short of democratic standards and undermined the confidence of party members who expected a credible and inclusive process.

Lawal alleged that key stakeholders were sidelined while decisions relating to the primaries were influenced by interests determined to secure favourable outcomes for preferred candidates.

He expressed disappointment that the party, which many members had hoped would provide an alternative political platform, had failed to uphold internal democracy.

The former SGF, however, did not immediately indicate his next political destination but stated that he would continue to work with like-minded Nigerians committed to promoting credible leadership and democratic values.