Atiku fires back at Babachir, rejects ADC primary rigging claims

African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar responded to allegations made by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, regarding the party’s presidential primary. The response followed Lawal’s resignation from the ADC and his claim that the primary election was manipulated in favour of Atiku.

The Atiku camp, through a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, dismissed the allegations and maintained that the presidential primary reflected the decision of party members across the country. According to the statement, the accusations lacked supporting evidence and failed to establish any wrongdoing in the conduct of the election.

The former vice president’s team argued that the primary was held across numerous wards nationwide and produced a clear outcome. It maintained that no documents, credible witnesses or verifiable facts had been presented to support claims that the process was compromised.

The statement also questioned Lawal’s position on the exercise, pointing out that he appeared willing to accept the outcome of the same primary process in Adamawa State, where his relative, Omar Suleiman, emerged as the party’s governorship candidate. The Atiku camp suggested that such a position raised questions about the consistency of his criticism.

In its response, the camp further revisited controversies that surrounded Lawal’s time as Secretary to the Government of the Federation during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. It referenced the contract scandal that led to his removal from office in 2017, although Lawal has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the matter.

According to the statement, Lawal’s reaction appeared to stem from dissatisfaction with the outcome of the presidential primary rather than concerns about electoral fairness. The camp argued that participation in a democratic process does not guarantee victory and that election outcomes should be respected even when they do not favour a preferred candidate.

The statement also criticised what it described as attempts to introduce ethnic and religious sentiments into discussions surrounding the primary election. It maintained that such arguments do not provide solutions to the country’s economic and security challenges.

Defending Atiku’s suitability for office, the camp said the 2027 presidential election would ultimately be decided by Nigerians based on issues such as governance, economic recovery and national security. It added that Atiku remains focused on presenting his plans for addressing the country’s challenges rather than engaging in post-primary disputes.

The response comes amid growing tensions within the ADC following the presidential primary and the departure of some party members. The key figures in the development include , and Phrank Shaibu, a spokesman for the Atiku campaign team.