ADC Primary Row: Returning Officer slams Babachir Lawal

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA — The chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) electoral committee in Adamawa State, Dr. Nicholas Msheliza, has accused former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, of attempting to influence and alter the outcome of the party’s recent presidential primary, threatening to release evidence to support his claims.

Msheliza, who also served as Returning Officer for the Adamawa primaries, said Lawal personally contacted him after results were compiled and demanded that he reverse the outcome in Hong Local Government Area in favour of businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen over former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

He said he rejected the request, insisting the results reflected the actual votes cast.

“When Babachir Lawal got wind of the results, he called and requested that I reverse the results to favour his candidate. I refused to carry out his criminal directive,” Msheliza said.

According to him, Atiku won Hong LGA with 11,991 votes, while Hayatu-Deen polled 2,493 votes and former Minister Rotimi Amaechi got 377 votes.

Msheliza further alleged that shortly after his refusal, Lawal dissolved the local electoral committee and set up a parallel structure that conducted what he described as an “illegal exercise” across several LGAs, including Hong, Madagali, Michika and Mubi North.

He claimed the move produced “concocted results” and contradicted the official tally already recorded by the original committee.

“This was done without consultation and without proper electoral materials. The original results had already been documented before the parallel team arrived,” he said.

The Returning Officer challenged Lawal to release his own result sheets for public comparison with the official records, adding that he was prepared to present documentary evidence backing his account.

He also questioned Lawal’s conduct, saying his actions were inconsistent with the integrity expected of his office and public standing.

A further detailed statement, he said, would be released with “documentary proof of interference and manipulation attempts” surrounding the primary.

The exchange marks a fresh escalation in the post-primary tensions within the ADC following Lawal’s resignation from the party earlier in the week and his earlier allegation that Atiku manipulated the presidential primary in his favour. Opposition figures have since dismissed the claims, while internal party actors continue to trade accusations over the conduct of the exercise.

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