Former SGF Babachir Lawal threatens legal action over alleged ADC candidate substitution in Adamawa
Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has threatened legal action against the African Democratic Congress ADC and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Lawal alleges that the ADC unlawfully replaced its 2027 Adamawa State governorship candidate, Umar Suleiman, with Tukur Moddibo. He claims Suleiman, a Kilba Muslim, won the party's primary but was substituted under pressure from Atiku and other party leaders, who allegedly preferred Moddibo, a Fulani Muslim. Lawal asserts this substitution violates the Electoral Act 2026, the ADC Constitution, and the party's primary election guidelines, and he intends to challenge it in court. He believes this action could undermine the ADC's chances in the Adamawa governorship election and links it to broader political strategies concerning the Adamawa Emirate Council and the restoration of chiefdoms. Lawal also stated that this development reinforces his concerns about the implications of an Atiku presidency for non-Fulani and non-Muslim communities in Northern Nigeria, suggesting that voters in Adamawa have other viable options in the upcoming elections.
