The camp of ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has rejected allegations by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, that the party’s presidential primary was manipulated, insisting that the claims are baseless and unsupported by evidence.
In a statement released by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president’s camp said Lawal’s accusations were driven by personal and political interests rather than facts.
“Having chosen to malign a democratic process, insult thousands of ADC members nationwide, and make grave allegations without presenting a shred of evidence, it has become necessary to set the record straight,” the statement read.
Lawal had announced his resignation from the African Democratic Congress on Monday, alleging that the presidential primary was rigged in favour of Atiku. However, Atiku’s camp maintained that the exercise was conducted fairly and reflected the wishes of party members.
Shaibu argued that Lawal failed to provide any proof to back up his claims.
“The truth is straightforward. The ADC presidential primaries were conducted across thousands of wards and produced a clear and decisive outcome. What Mr Lawal has offered Nigerians is not evidence. He has produced no documents, no verifiable facts, no credible witnesses, and no proof whatsoever to support his sensational allegations,” he stated.
The statement also accused Lawal of inconsistency, noting that he appeared satisfied with the outcome of other contests conducted through the same process.
According to Shaibu, Lawal has not explained why he accepts the emergence of his cousin, Omar Suleiman, as the ADC governorship candidate in Adamawa State while condemning the presidential primary.
“Mr Lawal has also failed to explain how the very same primary process he now dismisses as fraudulent somehow produced a result he appears perfectly willing to accept in Adamawa State, where his cousin, Omar Suleiman, emerged as the ADC governorship candidate.
“Nigerians are entitled to ask whether the process was only credible when it favoured his family and only rigged when it produced a presidential candidate he did not support,” the statement added.
Atiku’s camp further linked Lawal’s criticism to dissatisfaction over the outcome of the primary rather than concerns about transparency within the party.
The statement also referenced Lawal’s removal as SGF in 2017 over allegations connected to the Presidential Initiative on the North-East, widely known as the “grass-cutting scandal,” although Lawal has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
