Fresh questions are being raised about internal democracy within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, challenged the circumstances surrounding the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election. The remarks, made in Abuja during a television interview on Monday, came days after Lawal resigned from the party.

Adopting an accountability-focused stance, Lawal said the outcome of the presidential primary has prompted concerns about whether the contest reflected the level of engagement expected from leading aspirants. According to him, many party members had anticipated a highly competitive race among the frontrunners before the eventual emergence of Atiku.

The former SGF pointed to the campaign activities of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, whom he described as one of the most visible contenders in the build-up to the primary. Lawal said Amaechi and his supporters appeared confident of victory, citing what he described as extensive consultations and political outreach undertaken ahead of the exercise.

By contrast, Lawal said Atiku maintained a relatively low public profile during the period leading up to the primary. He noted that some observers within the party questioned how the former vice president intended to secure enough support, given what they perceived as limited campaign activity compared to other aspirants.

The comments add another layer to an ongoing dispute over the conduct of the ADC primary. Lawal has consistently alleged that the process was flawed and has accused Atiku of influencing the exercise in a manner that undermined the credibility of the contest. Those allegations remain at the centre of the disagreement that followed the party’s candidate selection process.

As political parties begin positioning for the 2027 general election, the debate within the ADC highlights broader questions about transparency, fairness and member participation in candidate selection.

How parties manage such concerns could play a significant role in shaping public confidence in their internal governance ahead of the next electoral cycle.