Atiku Camp Rejects Babachir’s Rigging Allegations, Defends ADC Presidential Primary
By Laz Umezuruike
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
The camp of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has strongly dismissed allegations by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, that the party’s presidential primary was manipulated, describing the claims as baseless and unsupported by evidence.
Lawal had announced his resignation from the ADC on Monday, alleging that the party’s presidential primary process was compromised and unfairly tilted in favour of Atiku. The former SGF questioned the credibility of the exercise and expressed dissatisfaction with its outcome.
Responding to the allegations, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, issued a statement defending the integrity of the primary election. He maintained that the process was conducted in accordance with democratic principles and reflected the collective will of party members across the country.
According to Shaibu, the presidential primary was held across numerous wards nationwide and produced a clear outcome. He argued that Lawal had failed to present any credible evidence to substantiate claims of manipulation.
“Having chosen to criticise a democratic process and cast doubt on the decision of thousands of ADC members nationwide, it is important to place the facts on record,” the statement noted.
The Atiku camp further stated that no documents, verifiable facts, witnesses, or other forms of evidence had been provided to support the allegations of electoral malpractice made by the former SGF.
Shaibu also questioned what he described as inconsistencies in Lawal’s position, noting that the same primary process produced candidates in other contests, including the ADC governorship candidate in Adamawa State, which Lawal appeared willing to accept.
He argued that party members and the wider public were entitled to ask whether objections to the process were based on concerns about its credibility or dissatisfaction with the presidential outcome.
The statement also revisited controversies surrounding Lawal’s tenure as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, noting that his public image as a critic of corruption and electoral malpractice had previously come under scrutiny during his time in office. Lawal has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to past allegations against him.
According to the Atiku camp, the criticism of the ADC primary appears to stem more from disagreement with the outcome than from genuine concerns about the conduct of the election.
“Democracy guarantees participation and the right to contest, but it does not guarantee victory,” the statement said, adding that democratic processes should be respected regardless of individual preferences.
Shaibu also cautioned against introducing ethnic or religious considerations into political disagreements, stressing that such narratives do not address the pressing socio-economic and security challenges facing the country.
He maintained that Nigerians are more concerned with issues such as economic recovery, job creation, security, and good governance than internal political disputes.
Defending Atiku’s credentials, Shaibu said the former Vice President remains committed to presenting policy-driven solutions to Nigeria’s challenges and believes that voters will ultimately determine the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.
The statement concluded by expressing confidence that the ADC presidential primary result reflects the decision of party members and that political disagreements arising from the contest would not alter the outcome of the democratic process.
