Babachir Lawal Explains Why He Rejects ADC and APC, Hints at Preferred Presidential Candidate

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal has intensified his attack on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary that produced Atiku Abubakar as the party’s candidate.

Lawal was said to have claimed that the exercise was rigged and that he had evidence to support his claim.

On Tuesday, the former ADC North-East Vice Chairman told newsmen on a television interview that the results declared by the party did not correspond to the votes cast in many places.

“It was rigged in the first place,” Lawal said.

In the documents he has, Mr Lawal said there are discrepancies between the results collated at the local level and those eventually sent to the party’s national collation centre.

“I have evidence. “I have data from a primary, for example, local government, the return of election was Hayatu-Deen with 20,000 votes and Atiku Abubakar with 1,000 and something votes,” he said.

“But the result that was sent to Abuja was reversed, turned upside down.

The former SGF also stated that some officials involved in the collation process had privately expressed concern about the handling of results.

The change, a state returning officer said, was justified as it would be embarrassing for Atiku to lose in his home state.

Lawal also queried why it took several days for results from Adamawa to get to Abuja allegedly.

“It took our own returning officer almost three days before he could submit the results in Abuja. “”What did they do with the results?” he asked.

Lawal said; “It is on principle and not out of personal hatred that I am opposed to Atiku.

“I will kill myself supporting Atiku, campaigning for him, if I believe he won free and fair and square,” he said.

“Nigeria cannot produce quality leaders if the process of emergence of leaders is flawed,” he said.

“If the process of emergence is fraudulent, defective, the chances of producing good leaders will not be there,” he added.

The former ADC chief also stuck to his earlier comments that drew flak for their ethnic and religious overtones.

Asked if he would take back the comments, Lawal said: “I will not.

He told of his experiences of discrimination as a Christian of the Kilba ethnic group in Adamawa State that he said he had endured.

He expressed his support for Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, stating that he was the most qualified among the aspirants for the presidential ticket.

He said, “None of the three, by all standards, comes close to Hayatu-Deen as the Nigeria that we want to bequeath to another leader today.”

He praised the economist’s corporate background and professional achievements, saying that competence should be the main criterion in choosing national leaders.

The former SGF said he had effectively retired from active partisan politics and was still undecided on who to support in the next presidential election.

I have now retired from politics. “I’m not out knocking on doors for votes for anybody,” he said.

I have one vote of my own, and I keep it to myself. “I may vote for Omoyele Sowore.

Lawal said that he had not taken a decision when asked if he would support a possible alliance involving Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Lawal also said he had ruled out support for both APC and ADC, while waiting for other candidates that may come up ahead of the 2027 election.

He said, “I’m waiting still. So far. At least I have made a choice. I threw APC out. Now I’ve thrown ADC out. “Waiting for other people to put forward their candidates.”