Former SGF Quits Party, Alleges Massive Rigging; Atiku Camp Fires Back, Defends Primary Process as Hayatu-Deen Rejects Court Challenge
By Baron Eloagu / June 2, 2026
ABUJA, Nigeria — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is facing one of its most serious internal crises since emerging as a major opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, following an escalating war of words between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, over the conduct of the party’s presidential primary.
The controversy erupted after Lawal announced his resignation from the ADC, accusing party leaders of manipulating the presidential primary in favour of Atiku. The allegations have since triggered sharp reactions from the former vice president’s camp, which dismissed the claims as baseless and politically motivated.
The dispute has exposed growing cracks within the opposition coalition at a time when political stakeholders are seeking to build a formidable challenge against President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Adding another dimension to the unfolding drama, businessman and former presidential aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has alleged irregularities in the primary process but ruled out any legal challenge, citing the need for opposition unity.
Atiku Emerges Amid Controversy
The ADC presidential primary held last week ended with Atiku Abubakar securing a decisive victory.
According to official results announced by the party:
- Atiku Abubakar polled 1,846,370 votes.
- Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi received 504,117 votes.
- Businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen secured 177,120 votes.
The outcome positioned Atiku as the ADC’s standard bearer for the 2027 presidential election and immediately elevated the party into the centre of national political discourse.
However, the victory has been overshadowed by allegations questioning the transparency and credibility of the process.
Babachir Lawal’s Explosive Exit
In a statement announcing his departure from the ADC, Lawal accused party leaders of orchestrating what he described as widespread electoral manipulation to guarantee Atiku’s emergence.
The former SGF alleged that results were altered and candidates imposed in multiple contests across the country.
According to him, the irregularities were too significant to ignore.
“I am exiting the ADC because its just concluded primaries were at all levels massively rigged in favour of Kachalla Abubakar Atiku,” Lawal declared.
He further alleged that election results were rewritten to benefit preferred candidates and claimed that individuals who legitimately won some contests were replaced by members of what he described as Atiku’s political network.
Lawal said he could not remain silent while what he considers an assault on internal democracy unfolded within the party.
“I sense a conspiracy of silence of which I want no part. Most members of the party are behaving as if this is the normal thing to do,” he stated.
“Working for Atiku Means Helping Tinubu”
Perhaps the most politically provocative aspect of Lawal’s statement was his assertion that supporting Atiku’s candidacy could ultimately benefit President Bola Tinubu.
The former SGF argued that Atiku’s emergence would effectively hand Tinubu a second term victory.
“For me, working for Atiku means giving Tinubu an automatic ticket to a second term, which gives me nightmares,” he said.
The comment has generated intense debate within opposition circles, where questions are already being raised about coalition unity and electoral strategy ahead of 2027.
Atiku Camp Fires Back
The Atiku campaign wasted little time in responding to Lawal’s allegations.
In a strongly-worded statement issued by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president’s camp rejected all claims of manipulation and insisted that the primary reflected the democratic will of ADC members nationwide.
The statement accused Lawal of attempting to discredit the party without presenting evidence.
“What Mr Lawal has offered Nigerians is not evidence. He has produced no documents, no verifiable facts, no credible witnesses and no proof whatsoever to support his sensational allegations,” Shaibu said.
The Atiku camp maintained that the primary was conducted across thousands of wards and produced a clear outcome accepted by the majority of participants.
Questions Over Selective Outrage
Seeking to challenge Lawal’s credibility, Atiku’s supporters pointed to the emergence of Lawal’s relative, Omar Suleiman, as the ADC governorship candidate in Adamawa State.
According to Shaibu, Lawal had not questioned the legitimacy of that outcome despite criticizing the same electoral process.
“Was the process only credible when it favoured his family and only rigged when it produced a presidential candidate he did not support?” the statement asked.
Political analysts say this argument may become a central point of contention as both camps seek to shape public perception of the controversy.
Grass-Cutting Scandal Resurfaces
The Atiku camp also revived controversies surrounding Lawal’s tenure as Secretary to the Government of the Federation under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Shaibu referenced the 2017 contract controversy commonly known as the “grass-cutting scandal,” which ultimately led to Lawal’s removal from office.
“It is perhaps the greatest irony of this entire episode that Mr Babachir Lawal now seeks to reinvent himself as Nigeria’s newest apostle of integrity and transparency,” the statement said.
Lawal has consistently denied wrongdoing in relation to the allegations that led to his dismissal from office.
Hayatu-Deen Alleges Irregularities, Rejects Court Action
While distancing himself from Lawal’s approach, former ADC presidential aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen also expressed concerns about the conduct of the primary.
Before the official announcement of results, Hayatu-Deen publicly questioned reports of alleged vote manipulation and irregularities.
He said the process failed to meet his expectations and raised concerns about whether the ADC was practising the democratic values it advocates nationally.
However, after consultations with supporters and party stakeholders, he ruled out any legal challenge.
“I have decided, after careful reflection and wide consultation, that I will not challenge the outcome in court,” he said.
According to Hayatu-Deen, preserving opposition unity is more important than pursuing personal political ambitions.
Opposition Coalition Under Pressure
The growing disagreements within the ADC are emerging at a sensitive moment for opposition politics in Nigeria.
Political observers note that the opposition’s ability to unite behind a common agenda could determine its chances of mounting a serious challenge to President Tinubu in 2027.
However, allegations of internal manipulation, leadership struggles, and post-primary disputes threaten to undermine public confidence in the coalition’s commitment to democratic principles.
Analysts argue that the controversy highlights a recurring challenge within Nigerian politics: the difficulty of balancing coalition-building with internal democracy.
What This Means for 2027
The ADC primary dispute may have implications extending far beyond internal party politics.
For Atiku, the allegations present an early test of his ability to unify diverse political interests under a single platform.
For opposition leaders seeking to rally Nigerians around an alternative political vision, the controversy raises questions about transparency, accountability, and democratic credibility.
For the ruling APC, the unfolding tensions within the opposition may offer a strategic advantage as preparations for the 2027 election intensify.
The bitter exchange between Atiku Abubakar and Babachir Lawal has transformed the ADC presidential primary from a victory celebration into a major political controversy. With allegations of rigging, counter-accusations, questions over internal democracy, and growing tensions among party stakeholders, the opposition coalition faces an early and significant test of its unity.
Although Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has chosen not to pursue legal action, the issues raised by both him and Lawal are likely to remain part of the national political conversation in the months ahead. As the countdown to the 2027 elections begins, how the ADC manages these internal disputes may prove crucial to its credibility and electoral prospects.
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