ADC Primary Revolts: Lawal Quits Party, Says Atiku’s Victory Was Written Before the Final Vote

The ADC Primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential flag bearer has exploded into fresh controversy after former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal resigned from the party and accused its leadership of manipulating the process. His dramatic exit has intensified questions about opposition unity and raised fresh doubts about whether the party can move beyond internal disputes before the 2027 election cycle.

ADC Faces Fresh Crisis After Lawal’s Exit

The ADC Primary held on May 25 produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate after he defeated former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen by a wide margin. Official figures released by the party showed Atiku securing over 1.8 million votes, significantly ahead of his rivals. However, the victory was almost immediately followed by allegations of irregularities from some competing aspirants.

Lawal’s resignation statement pushed those allegations into a new phase. He alleged that results were rewritten to favour Atiku and his allies, describing the exercise as a “disgraceful charade.” According to him, some declared winners were allegedly replaced while outcomes were predetermined before voting concluded. The former SGF said remaining silent would amount to endorsing a process he considered fundamentally flawed.

Atiku, Opposition Politics and the Bigger Question

The controversy surrounding the ADC Primary did not begin with Lawal’s resignation. Before final results were announced, Hayatu-Deen publicly distanced himself from the process and raised concerns about its credibility. Amaechi also questioned aspects of the exercise, alleging widespread irregularities and disenfranchisement. While some party officials later promised to review complaints, the accusations have continued to shape public discussion around the primary.

Beyond the immediate dispute, the episode highlights a larger challenge facing opposition politics in Nigeria. Online discussions and political commentary have increasingly focused on whether repeated battles among opposition figures could ultimately benefit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu heading into the next general election. Lawal himself argued that backing Atiku could indirectly strengthen Tinubu’s chances, while several political observers have noted that divisions within opposition movements often become as significant as their campaigns against incumbents. Though Atiku’s supporters maintain that he remains one of the country’s most experienced opposition figures, critics argue that unresolved internal conflicts risk overshadowing efforts to present a united front.

For now, the ADC leadership faces the difficult task of defending the integrity of its primary while preventing further defections. Whether the allegations lead to formal challenges, internal reconciliation or deeper fractures remains uncertain. What is clear is that the ADC Primary has transformed from a routine candidate-selection exercise into a major political test that could shape perceptions of the opposition long before Nigerians return to the ballot box.