Babachir Lawal Atiku clash deepens as the former SGF accuses Atiku of influencing the ADC’s Adamawa candidate process
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal renewed his criticism of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Sunday, 9 August 2026, in Nigeria, accusing the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate of influencing the party’s handling of its Adamawa governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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Lawal made the claims in the latest edition of his “Kachalla Series” published on his verified Facebook page, where he also launched a sharp attack on Atiku’s presidential ambition.
The former SGF alleged that Engr Umar Suleiman emerged as the ADC’s governorship primary winner in Adamawa but was subsequently replaced by Tukur Moddibo.
Lawal claimed the substitution followed pressure from Atiku and other party leaders, and alleged that ethnic and religious considerations influenced the decision.
Those claims have not been independently established, and neither Atiku nor the ADC had publicly responded to the latest allegations at the time of reporting.
Lawal used the dispute to question how Atiku could allegedly influence decisions within the ADC, particularly after securing the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 election.
He also criticised the party leadership, warning that the handling of the Adamawa ticket could damage the ADC’s prospects in the state.
In one of his most pointed remarks, Lawal compared Atiku’s presidential ambition to a low-cost online purchase.
He wrote that the presidential bid “looks more like he too was a cheap product from TEMU”, extending a comparison he made about the alleged selection of governorship candidates by both the APC and ADC.
The criticism marks another chapter in Lawal’s increasingly public disagreement with Atiku.
Lawal resigned from the ADC in June 2026, shortly after Atiku emerged as the party’s presidential candidate. In announcing his departure, Lawal accused the party’s primary process of being heavily manipulated in favour of Atiku and said he did not want to be part of what he described as Atiku’s political machinery for 2027.
Atiku’s camp subsequently rejected Lawal’s earlier accusations, describing his claims about rigging, tribalism and religious bias as unfounded and politically motivated.
The latest dispute centres more specifically on Adamawa, Atiku’s home state and a politically significant battleground ahead of the 2027 elections.
Lawal argued that replacing the reported primary winner with another candidate could undermine confidence in the party’s internal democratic processes.
He said he intended to challenge the alleged substitution in court, claiming that the action breached the Electoral Act 2026, the ADC constitution and the party’s primary election guidelines.
The legal threat could add another layer to an already complicated political contest if formal proceedings are initiated.
Lawal also urged voters in Adamawa to consider alternatives to both the APC and ADC, insisting that the ultimate decision would rest with the electorate.
The dispute comes as Nigerian political parties continue to position themselves for the 2027 general elections, with Atiku emerging as one of the leading opposition figures seeking the presidency.
For Lawal, however, the latest intervention goes beyond ordinary campaign criticism. His remarks reflect a continuing break with the ADC and its presidential candidate after his departure from the party earlier this year.
For Atiku and the ADC, the allegations present another challenge to the party’s effort to build a broad coalition ahead of 2027.
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Whether the dispute over the Adamawa ticket proceeds to court, and how it affects the ADC’s standing in the state, remains to be seen.
