ADC Primary: Stop grandstanding, bring your evidence, Atiku tells Babachir Lawal
Atiku Abubakar Responds to Allegations from Babachir Lawal on ADC Primary Conduct
By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has rejected allegations made by Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, regarding the conduct of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary. Atiku described the claims as unfounded and politically motivated.
Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, issued a statement on Tuesday, criticizing Lawal’s recent television interview. Shaibu remarked that the interview showcased a lack of evidence to support Lawal’s accusations.
“Mr. Lawal spent nearly an hour making grave accusations about the conduct of the ADC presidential primary. Yet he failed to produce a single piece of verifiable evidence. No document, no petition, no result sheet, no witness statement, and no recording. Nothing to substantiate his claims,” Shaibu quoted Atiku as saying.
Shaibu emphasized that Lawal’s performance illustrated a failure to substantiate serious allegations, stating, “He arrived with accusations. He left with accusations. But the evidence never arrived.”
Atiku further suggested that Lawal’s assertions stemmed from disappointment over the primary outcome, noting that Lawal had previously aligned with another candidate before the primary concluded.
The statement also pointed out contradictions in Lawal’s arguments, indicating that Atiku was described both as politically irrelevant and as a powerful orchestrator of a conspiracy across multiple political wards.
“According to his own account, Atiku was inactive, unpopular, and absent from the field. Yet Nigerians are expected to believe that this same supposedly dormant politician orchestrated a nationwide conspiracy,” Shaibu said.
Lawal was accused of acting as a “political mercenary,” attempting to discredit Atiku’s reputation among Christian communities and other constituencies where Atiku is viewed favorably.
In rebutting Lawal’s claim that he had “absolutely nothing,” Atiku asserted that such remarks reflect a bias driven by hostility. The statement highlighted Atiku’s contributions to Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, economic reforms, and education as part of his enduring legacy.
“This is the final response to Mr. Lawal’s increasingly desperate attempts to remain politically relevant through sensationalism and character assassination,” Shaibu declared. “Nigerians have heard him. They have seen him. And they have judged for themselves.”
The statement concluded by affirming that the facts and truth remain unchanged despite Lawal’s claims.
