Atiku camp fire back at Babachir Lawal over primary election allegations

The camp of the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has strongly rejected allegations made by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, regarding the conduct of the party’s recent presidential primary election.

The response follows Lawal’s resignation from the ADC on Monday, during which he accused Atiku and his allies of influencing the outcome of the party’s primaries conducted across the country. The former SGF questioned the credibility of the exercise, alleging that the process was manipulated to favour the former vice-president and his supporters.

Lawal had claimed that election results were altered in several instances and that individuals who legitimately won their contests were replaced by candidates loyal to Atiku. He further argued that the process undermined democratic principles and raised concerns about the party’s preparedness to deliver credible elections in the future.

However, the ADC and Atiku’s camp have dismissed the allegations, describing them as baseless and unsupported by evidence.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice-president’s camp accused Lawal of attempting to discredit both the party and its members without presenting any verifiable proof.

“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.

Shaibu maintained that the party’s presidential primary reflected the collective will of ADC members across the country and produced a clear outcome through a transparent process.

According to him, Lawal has failed to provide any documentary evidence, credible witnesses, or verifiable facts to substantiate his claims of electoral malpractice.

“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,” Shaibu stated.

“He has produced no documents, no verifiable facts, no credible witnesses, and no proof whatsoever to support his sensational allegations.”

The latest exchange highlights growing tensions within the ADC following Atiku’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election. Lawal’s resignation and subsequent criticism have sparked fresh debate over internal party democracy, while the ADC leadership continues to defend the credibility of its primary process.

With the 2027 election cycle gradually taking shape, political observers believe the disagreement could test the unity of opposition forces seeking to challenge the ruling administration in the coming years.