2027: Ex-SGF Babachir warns Nigerians against voting Atiku

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has launched a blistering attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, cautioning Nigerians against electing him in the 2027 presidential election and vowing to work actively to prevent his victory.

Lawal's warning accompanied his formal resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He accused Atiku and his inner circle of systematically manipulating the party’s internal democratic processes to secure the ADC presidential ticket.

In an explosive statement issued following his departure from the ADC, Lawal claimed that the party’s primary elections across various levels were compromised to favor Atiku.

"I will be tweaking my plans for the future and consulting with like-minded colleagues on how to stop this incompetent octogenarian from coming close to the presidential office. In the meantime, I will watch 'Kachalla' Atiku and his band of wicked vote riggers get mercilessly out-rigged by Tinubu’s superior rigging machine."

Lawal further alleged that:

Result Alteration: Primary results at multiple levels were rewritten, replacing legitimate winners with candidates loyal to the former Vice President.
Factionalization: The ADC’s core leadership structures were effectively "captured" by Atiku’s political apparatus, alienating key opposition allies.
Ethnic & Regional Agendas: Atiku’s political maneuvering risks dividing the opposition along regional and religious fault lines, directly undermining the goal of offering a unified alternative in 2027.

The Political Fallout: Key Statements & Responses

POLITICAL REACTION SUMMARY
• Babachir Lawal: Resigns from ADC; vows to stop Atiku in 2027
• Atiku Campaign: Dismisses Lawal as a "notorious conflict
entrepreneur" and defends ADC's primary process
• The Presidency: Describes Lawal's departure as a "stinging rebuke"
and a fatal blow to the opposition coalition

Responding to the allegations, representatives for Atiku Abubakar dismissed Lawal’s accusations as bitter grievances. Campaign spokespersons labeled the former SGF a "notorious conflict entrepreneur," maintaining that the ADC primary was conducted in accordance with party regulations and electoral guidelines. They insisted Atiku remains the most qualified opposition candidate to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ruling party swiftly exploited the rift. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Lawal’s departure as a *"stinging rebuke along with a bitter divorce"* for Atiku and the opposition. Presidential aides argued that the public fallout validates assertions that opposition alliances lack internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 polls.

Lawal’s high-profile exit marks a significant setback for efforts to build a unified opposition coalition against President Bola Tinubu.

Fragmented Opposition: Lawal’s vow to consult with other key figures to block Atiku highlights deepening fractures among northern and middle-belt political leaders.
Third-Force Realignments: With Lawal departing and questioning the integrity of the ADC ticket, key voting blocs previously aligned with Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, or aggrieved APC factions may reconsider their participation in the broader ADC alliance.
Ruling Party Advantage: Political analysts note that ongoing internal disputes within major opposition platforms significantly lower the threshold for the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.