ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal has resigned from the African Democratic Congress, citing what he described as the party’s abandonment of internal democracy.
Lawal, who served under President Muhammadu Buhari until his removal in 2017 amid a corruption scandal, announced his decision Monday, saying the ADC’s primaries were “massively rigged” in favor of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. He accused party leaders of ignoring irregularities and betraying the principles of fairness and transparency.
The resignation has stirred debate across Nigeria’s political landscape. Some ADC officials pushed back, alleging Lawal himself attempted to influence the primaries in favor of another candidate, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen. Lauretta Onochie, a party chieftain, said his exit was expected, describing him as “consistently hostile” toward Atiku.
Political analysts say the move underscores growing divisions within opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections. “This is a symptom of a larger problem,” one Abuja-based analyst noted. “Internal democracy remains weak across most Nigerian parties, and defections like this only deepen public mistrust.”
On social media, reactions were swift and polarized. Supporters praised Lawal for “speaking truth to power” and exposing alleged manipulation, while critics dismissed his resignation as self-serving, pointing to his controversial past. Some Nigerians expressed frustration that opposition parties continue to fracture, with one user writing, “How can they challenge the ruling party if they can’t even run fair primaries?” Others argued the episode highlights systemic flaws in Nigeria’s political system, where party primaries are often marred by allegations of manipulation.
Policy makers and stakeholders have also weighed in. Several lawmakers warned that disputes like this could undermine opposition unity and weaken efforts to challenge the ruling party in 2027. Civil society groups called for reforms to strengthen internal party processes, noting that recurring defections and accusations of rigging erode public confidence in democracy. A former electoral commissioner said, “If parties cannot guarantee fairness in their internal elections, how can they convince Nigerians they will protect the sanctity of the ballot in national polls?”
For many Nigerians, Lawal’s resignation has reignited calls for reforms to restore credibility in the democratic system. Whether his departure weakens or strengthens the opposition ahead of 2027 remains uncertain, but the controversy has once again placed the issue of internal party democracy at the center of national debate.
