‘No evidence’ — Atiku dismisses Babachir Lawal’s ADC rigging claim
Atiku Abubakar’s Camp Rejects Rigging Claims by Babachir Lawal
Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has rejected allegations of manipulation in the party’s recent presidential primary made by Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Abubakar’s team maintains that no credible evidence has been presented to substantiate these claims.
In a statement released by Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, the ADC characterized Lawal’s accusations as ungrounded and politically motivated. The statement emphasized that Lawal’s remarks have unjustly tarnished a democratic process and insulted the ADC’s membership.
“By choosing to malign the democratic process and making serious allegations without any evidence, it is necessary to clarify the situation,” the statement said.
Lawal, who resigned from the ADC on Monday, criticized the outcome of the party’s presidential primary, alleging external influences on the process. Abubakar’s camp responded by affirming that the primary was conducted transparently, reflecting the will of party members nationwide.
Shaibu expressed that Lawal failed to provide substantiating materials for his claims, stating, “The ADC presidential primaries were held across thousands of wards and resulted in a clear outcome. Mr. Lawal has not presented any documents, credible witnesses, or verifiable facts to back his allegations.”
The statement questioned Lawal’s consistency, noting that he had accepted results in related contests within the party until the outcome did not favor his choice. “Mr. Lawal needs to clarify how the same primary process he now discredits produced an outcome he accepted in Adamawa State, where his cousin, Omar Suleiman, became the ADC governorship candidate,” Shaibu said.
He added, “Nigerians may wonder if the process was credible only when it benefited his family and if it was deemed rigged when it did not produce a presidential candidate he supported.”
Shaibu also outlined Lawal’s past controversies, including his removal from office in 2017 over allegations related to the Presidential Initiative on the North-East, known as the “grass-cutting scandal.” Lawal has denied any wrongdoing.
The ADC’s statement suggested that Lawal’s critiques stem from dissatisfaction with the election results rather than genuine concerns about internal democracy. “What seems to trouble Mr. Lawal is not the conduct of the primaries but the outcome. Democracy ensures participation, not guaranteed success,” it noted.
Additionally, the statement condemned attempts to introduce ethnic or religious tensions into internal party conflicts, labeling such rhetoric as divisive.
Abubakar’s camp reaffirmed that the former Vice President remains focused on national issues as the 2027 elections approach, emphasizing that the ADC presidential nomination will ultimately be determined by Nigerian voters, based on issues of governance, economic recovery, and security.
