Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has said Rabiu Kwankwaso was initially concerned that the presence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would prevent the party from making meaningful progress.

Lawal made the claim while speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he also discussed his role in efforts to bring political figures into the ADC.

Key Facts

• Babachir Lawal said he helped convince Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to join the ADC.
• He claimed Kwankwaso was concerned about Atiku Abubakar’s presence in the party.
• Lawal said he participated in meetings concerning the ADC coalition.
• He said he was among the founders of the coalition on July 2, 2025.
• Lawal later left the ADC following its presidential primary.
• He subsequently alleged that the primary that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate was massively rigged.

Key Players

Babachir Lawal is a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and was involved in the political coalition that preceded the ADC’s emergence as a platform for opposition figures.

Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi were among the political figures Lawal said he helped persuade to join the ADC.

Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President, later emerged as the ADC’s presidential candidate following the party’s primary.

David Mark, a former Senate President, was identified by Lawal as the figure who emerged as national chairman following the coalition’s formation.

What Lawal Said About Kwankwaso

According to Lawal, Kwankwaso had reservations about joining the ADC because of Atiku’s involvement.

Lawal said he attended the coalition’s meetings and was involved in efforts to bring both Obi and Kwankwaso into the political platform.

He said Kwankwaso was particularly concerned about what Atiku’s presence could mean for the party.

“We also convinced Kwankwaso to join the ADC, but he was always afraid that with Atiku Abubakar there, nothing good would ever come out of the ADC.”

Lawal’s comments were presented as his account of the discussions surrounding the coalition and Kwankwaso’s position at the time.

The ADC Coalition Background

Lawal said he attended every meeting of the ADC during the coalition-building process and played a role in bringing some of the political figures into the arrangement.

He said Peter Obi was initially moving in and out of discussions before he eventually joined the ADC, claiming that he was the person who ultimately persuaded Obi to commit to the platform.

Lawal also said he and others convinced Kwankwaso to join the coalition despite the reservations he attributed to him.

According to Lawal, he was among the founders of the ADC coalition on July 2, 2025, an arrangement that produced former Senate President David Mark as national chairman.

What Is Established And What Was Alleged?

The comments about Kwankwaso’s concerns over Atiku are Lawal’s account of the events. The supplied report does not contain a direct response from Kwankwaso confirming or disputing Lawal’s characterization.

The same distinction applies to Lawal’s later claim concerning the ADC presidential primary.

The report states that Lawal left the ADC after the primary election and alleged that the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate was massively rigged.

That allegation should therefore be understood as a claim attributed to Lawal rather than as an independently established fact based on the information provided.

Political Implications

Lawal’s account highlights disagreements that existed among some of the political figures involved in the ADC coalition-building process.

His comments also place the relationship between Kwankwaso and Atiku within the broader history of the coalition and the subsequent ADC presidential primary.

However, the material available for this report does not establish Kwankwaso’s position independently of Lawal’s account, nor does it provide a response from Atiku or the ADC addressing the allegations.

The significance of the remarks therefore rests on the political history Lawal has described and on the unresolved claims surrounding the coalition and its primary process.

Verify Before Sharing

Political claims involving party negotiations, alliances and internal disagreements can evolve as additional participants provide their accounts.

Readers should distinguish between statements made by individual political actors and facts that have been independently established. Further responses from Kwankwaso, Atiku or the ADC would provide additional context to the claims contained in Lawal’s account.

Editorial Wrap-Up

Babachir Lawal’s comments provide his account of the discussions that preceded the ADC coalition and the concerns he attributed to Rabiu Kwankwaso over Atiku Abubakar’s involvement.

Lawal also linked the issue to his subsequent departure from the ADC and his allegation concerning the party’s presidential primary.

For now, the claims about Kwankwaso’s reservations and the alleged irregularities in the primary remain attributed to Lawal in the material provided.