Adamawa ADC Crisis: Babachir Lawal Threatens Court Action Over Candidate Substitution

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has threatened to take the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to court over the alleged substitution of its governorship candidate in Adamawa State.

Lawal accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the ADC leadership of disregarding due process in the replacement of Engr. Umar Suleiman, whom he said won the party’s governorship primary.

He made the allegation on Monday following reports that the party had replaced Suleiman with Tukur Moddibo as its candidate for the 2027 Adamawa governorship election.

The former SGF warned that the decision could damage the party’s chances at the polls.

In a statement made available to journalists, Lawal insisted that Suleiman was validly nominated after emerging victorious in the ADC governorship primary before his replacement.

He alleged that the substitution violated the party’s internal rules as well as relevant electoral laws, describing the development as a disregard for due process and the rule of law.

Lawal said he was prepared to challenge the legality of the substitution in court.

He said, *“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.

“And certainly, the unlawful act will fail woefully. Atiku’s contempt for rule of law will cost ADC victory in the Adamawa Governorship Election in 2027.”*

Lawal said Suleiman, whom he described as a Kilba Muslim from Hong Local Government Area, had won the ADC primary by a wide margin and was expected to be submitted as the party’s candidate for the general election.

He alleged that rumours that Atiku preferred Tukur Moddibo, whom he described as a Fulani Muslim from Fufore Local Government Area, had eventually materialised following the uploading of Moddibo’s name as the party’s candidate.

According to Lawal, the substitution was the result of pressure allegedly exerted by Atiku and his associates on the national leadership of the ADC.

He described the development as unjust and argued that it could undermine the interests of what he called the indigenous ethnic groups in Adamawa State.

Lawal further alleged that the development could benefit the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ahmed Tijjani Galadima, whom he claimed would be more amenable to the interests of the Adamawa Emirate Council.

He linked the alleged political calculations to longstanding disagreements over the restoration of chiefdoms and emirates belonging to indigenous communities in the state.

The former SGF alleged that some Fulani elites and traditional title holders were opposed to the existence of the restored chiefdoms and emirates, claiming that they viewed them as a challenge to the influence of the Adamawa Emirate Council.

He also accused the ADC leadership of allowing itself to be influenced by what he described as “tribal” and “religious” interests at the expense of the party’s electoral prospects.

Lawal said he was surprised that the party’s national leadership would allegedly abandon a candidate he believed had a strong chance of winning the election in order to satisfy the interests of an individual.

He further claimed that voters from the indigenous ethnic groups in Adamawa had other political options and would exercise those choices during the 2027 election.

According to him, there were credible candidates contesting under other political parties at the state level, while voters would also have presidential alternatives outside the ADC.

Lawal concluded that the ADC’s decision could cost the party significantly in Adamawa, suggesting that both the ADC and APC governorship candidates could struggle to secure the support of the state’s indigenous communities.