Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its choice of presidential candidate and the alleged substitution of its Adamawa governorship primary winner.

Lawal, in a Facebook post titled “Kachalla Series Three” on Sunday, alleged that the ADC replaced Engr. Umar Suleiman, whom he claimed won the party’s governorship primary, with Tukur Moddibo.

He alleged that the substitution was driven by ethnic considerations and pressure from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing the ADC of favouring candidates on ethnic and religious grounds.

Lawal described Suleiman as a competent and experienced politician capable of mounting a strong challenge in the state.

He also alleged that the substitution breached provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, the ADC Constitution and the party’s Primary Election Guidelines.

Taking a swipe at the party’s leadership and Atiku, Lawal compared the candidate-selection process to products bought from TEMU, an online marketplace known for low-cost goods.

He wrote that while the APC had allegedly “purchased” its governorship candidate from TEMU, the ADC appeared to have done the same, adding that the party had also given Nigeria “a presidential candidate that looks more like he too was a cheap product from TEMU.”

Lawal said he would challenge the alleged substitution through legal means, insisting that the people of Adamawa would reject what he described as an attempt to impose a candidate on them.

He predicted that both the ADC and the All Progressives Congress (APC) could lose the 2027 governorship election in the state, arguing that voters had other candidates and political parties to choose from.