KEY POINTS
- Former SGF Babachir Lawal has resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
- He alleged that the party’s primary elections were heavily manipulated in favour of Atiku Abubakar and his supporters.
- The ADC has yet to respond to the allegations as political reactions continue to emerge.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has formally resigned his membership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing what he described as serious irregularities in the party’s internal electoral process.
Lawal announced his departure in a statement issued on Monday, bringing to an end his association with the opposition party at a time when political realignments ahead of future elections continue to gather momentum.
Explaining the reasons behind his decision, Lawal accused the party leadership of conducting what he termed “massively rigged” primary elections.
According to him, the process was deliberately structured to favour former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and individuals aligned with him within the party.
Lawal alleged that the primaries lacked fairness and transparency, arguing that the outcome had been predetermined long before delegates and party members participated in the exercise.
He maintained that the integrity of the electoral process had been compromised, making it difficult for aspirants who were not aligned with the preferred political bloc to compete on an equal footing.
Growing Tensions Within the Party
The resignation comes amid growing political tensions within the ADC following disagreements over the conduct and outcome of its internal elections.
Lawal’s allegations add to the ongoing debate over internal democracy within political parties, a recurring issue that has often generated disputes and defections across Nigeria’s political landscape.
His exit could further deepen divisions within the party and potentially trigger fresh discussions among stakeholders regarding the credibility of the primary election process.
As of the time of filing this report, the African Democratic Congress has not issued an official response to Lawal’s allegations or his resignation.
Political observers are closely monitoring developments, with expectations that the party leadership may address the claims in the coming days.
More reactions and details are expected as the situation continues to unfold.