Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has alleged that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary was manipulated to favour former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, raising fresh concerns about the party’s internal electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Lawal made the allegation during an interview with Trust TV, claiming that votes cast for other presidential aspirants were allegedly altered during the collation of results to give Atiku an advantage. He said the alleged irregularities contributed to his decision to resign from the ADC.
The former SGF disclosed that he had supported businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen during the primary, describing him as the most capable candidate among the contenders.
According to Lawal, Hayatu-Deen secured victory in his state before the results were allegedly manipulated during the nationwide collation exercise.
Babachir Lawal Explains Alleged ADC Primary Manipulation
Lawal explained that he was serving as the ADC vice-chairman in his state when the party established a seven-member committee to oversee the presidential primary.
He said the party’s guidelines stipulated that the chairman and secretary of the committee would be appointed, while the state was responsible for nominating the remaining five members.
Lawal maintained that he supported Hayatu-Deen from the beginning of the process, believing the businessman had the capacity to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate.
However, he alleged that the results from his state were altered during collation, with votes recorded for Hayatu-Deen allegedly credited to Atiku.
“When they started filtering out the results, I found out that they were declaring Atiku. Then I found out that the result for Hayatu-Deen was credited to Atiku,” Lawal said.
He claimed that he challenged the alleged alteration but was informed that the party could not afford to embarrass Atiku, whom he described as its leader.
Lawal further alleged that some party members advised him to accept the outcome rather than continue protesting against the process.
Why Babachir Lawal Left the ADC
The former SGF said his experience during the presidential primary influenced his decision to leave the ADC.
Lawal had previously resigned from the party in June 2026, accusing its leadership of manipulating the presidential primary in favour of Atiku.
His latest comments reiterate his earlier allegations, with Lawal insisting that the results did not accurately reflect the votes cast for some of the aspirants.
The allegations have added to the controversy surrounding the ADC’s internal electoral process as opposition figures and political parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku Abubakar’s Camp Rejects Rigging Allegations
Atiku Abubakar’s camp has rejected Lawal’s allegations, describing them as unsubstantiated and questioning the evidence presented to support the claims.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, the former vice president’s camp said Lawal had failed to provide documents, verifiable facts or credible witnesses to substantiate his allegations.
The camp also maintained that the ADC presidential primary was conducted across the country and produced a clear outcome.
Atiku’s camp has consistently rejected claims that the exercise was manipulated, insisting that the results reflected the decision of party members.
The response followed Lawal’s earlier resignation from the ADC, during which he accused the party of massively rigging the presidential primary in Atiku’s favour.
Atiku Emerged as ADC Presidential Candidate
Atiku Abubakar was declared the winner of the ADC presidential primary held in May 2026, securing 1,846,370 votes.
Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi finished second with 504,117 votes, while Mohammed Hayatu-Deen recorded 177,120 votes.
The outcome generated controversy, with other presidential aspirants also expressing reservations about the conduct of the exercise.
Hayatu-Deen had reportedly raised concerns about the primary, while Amaechi also questioned alleged irregularities in the process.
Despite the complaints, Atiku’s camp has maintained that the primary was conducted in accordance with the party’s process and that the outcome was legitimate.
Babachir Lawal Insists ADC Primary Was Compromised
Lawal has continued to stand by his allegations, maintaining that the ADC presidential primary did not accurately reflect the votes cast for some of the contenders.
His latest remarks have renewed attention on the circumstances surrounding his departure from the party and the disagreement over Atiku’s emergence as the ADC presidential candidate.
The allegations come as political parties and opposition figures prepare for the 2027 general elections, with internal party processes and candidate selection remaining subjects of political debate.
However, Lawal’s claims of vote alteration remain allegations, which Atiku’s camp has firmly denied. The information presented in the reports does not independently establish that the ADC presidential primary was rigged.
