Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has predicted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will achieve a landslide victory in the 2027 presidential elections. Lawal made this assertion shortly after resigning from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he condemned the party's presidential primaries as heavily rigged in favor of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Lawal Criticizes Atiku's ADC Primary Win
Speaking on Channels Television's Politics Tonight program, Lawal stated that Atiku's manipulation of the primary results pales in comparison to President Tinubu's political machinery. He declared that if the measure of electoral success in Nigeria is rigging, then nobody can beat President Tinubu. Lawal added that Atiku will face the master rigger in the general election and will suffer the consequences.
Lawal accused Atiku and his allies of vote-rigging and manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections. He asserted that the APC presidential candidate's political structure is far superior to Atiku's, ensuring a landslide victory for Tinubu. Lawal further claimed that Atiku stands no chance against the incumbent president.
Atiku's Camp Responds to Allegations
In response, Atiku's camp dismissed Lawal's allegations as unsubstantiated. They maintained that the ADC presidential primaries were transparent and reflected the true will of party members across Nigeria. Atiku's team suggested that the accusations arose only because Lawal's preferred candidate did not win, questioning the credibility of his claims.
Background on ADC Primaries
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Nyesom Wike criticized the ADC's leadership structure for favoring Atiku over Rotimi Amaechi during the presidential primary. Wike argued that Amaechi's rushed decision to join the ADC was a strategic error. Ultimately, Atiku won the ADC primary decisively, leaving Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen far behind in the vote count.
