Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has warned that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) risks losing the 2027 Adamawa State governorship election over its decision to substitute its candidate,
Lawal, a chieftain of the party, said he would challenge the substitution in court, alleging that Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and the ADC leadership breached the Electoral Act 2026, the party’s constitution and its primary election guidelines.
The former SGF spoke on Monday following the confirmation of Tukur Moddibo as the party’s new governorship candidate in Adamawa State.
According to Lawal, Umar Suleiman, who he said won the ADC governorship primary, was replaced by Moddibo, a development he described as unlawful.
“Clearly, this unlawful substitution, which violates the Electoral Act 2026, the ADC Constitution and the ADC Primary Elections Guidelines, will be tested in the courts,” Lawal said.
He added that the decision could cost the ADC victory in the 2027 governorship election.
Lawal alleged that Atiku influenced the decision to replace Suleiman with Moddibo, whom he described as Atiku’s kinsman from Fufore Local Government Area of the state.
He said Suleiman, a Kilba Muslim from Hong Local Government Area, had won the party’s primary election and was expected to be submitted as the ADC’s candidate for the general election.
“What started as a rumour that Atiku preferred one of his kinsmen, Tukur Moddibo, a Fulani Muslim from Fufore Local Government, as his preferred ADC gubernatorial candidate simply on account of his being of the Fulani ethnic stock has become a reality,” Lawal said.
He accused the ADC’s national leadership of succumbing to pressure to replace Suleiman, describing the decision as unfair and unjustified.
Lawal also linked the development to wider political tensions surrounding the restoration of chiefdoms and emirates in Adamawa State, alleging that some Fulani elites and title holders opposed the move by the state government.
He further alleged that the candidate substitution could benefit the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Ahmed Tijjani Galadima, whom he described as a prince of the Adamawa Emirate.
According to Lawal, the alleged plan was aimed at consolidating political influence around the state government and the Adamawa Emirate Council at the expense of the state’s indigenous ethnic groups.
Lawal, however, said voters in Adamawa would have other political options in the 2027 election, insisting that the controversy would not leave the electorate with only the ADC and APC.
“At the state level, there are viable options in the other political parties that are fielding some serious and competent candidates in the gubernatorial election,” he said.
He predicted that both the ADC and APC could struggle at the polls if the current political dynamics persisted.
“Therefore, in Adamawa State, in the 2027 elections, the ADC and APC gubernatorial candidates might as well not be on the ballot,” Lawal said.
He maintained that the ADC would face serious electoral consequences if the substitution was not reversed.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC spokesman, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls seeking his comments on the allegations.
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