AtikuAbubakar
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has strongly rejected allegations that the party’s presidential primary was manipulated in his favour, describing the claims as unfounded and driven by political disappointment.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s camp accused former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, of attacking the integrity of the ADC’s democratic process without presenting any credible evidence.
The statement argued that Lawal’s allegations amounted to speculation rather than proof, noting that he failed to provide documents, witnesses, or verifiable facts to support claims that the primary election was rigged.
According to Atiku’s media office, the ADC primary was conducted across thousands of wards nationwide and produced a clear outcome that reflected the will of party members. The statement further suggested that Lawal’s criticism stemmed from dissatisfaction with the result rather than genuine concerns about electoral fairness.
The former vice president’s camp also pointed to what it described as inconsistencies in Lawal’s position, noting that while he condemned the presidential primary, he appeared willing to accept other outcomes from the same exercise, including the emergence of his relative, Omar Suleiman, as the party’s governorship candidate in Adamawa State.
“If the process was fundamentally flawed, then all outcomes from the exercise should be questioned, not only those that failed to favour a preferred candidate,” the statement argued.
The response further accused Lawal of resorting to divisive rhetoric after failing to secure support for his preferred choice, insisting that national politics should focus on addressing pressing challenges such as insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, and rising living costs rather than personal grievances.
Atiku’s media team also dismissed comments directed at his family, describing them as irrelevant to the issues confronting ordinary Nigerians. It maintained that citizens were more concerned about economic survival, access to education, and security than personal attacks among political figures.
The statement stressed that the 2027 presidential election would ultimately be determined by voters and not by post-primary disputes, insisting that allegations unsupported by evidence would not alter the political landscape.
In a sharply worded conclusion, the statement revisited controversies that surrounded Lawal’s tenure in public office, arguing that those seeking to question the credibility of others must first address concerns raised about their own records.
Despite the heated exchange, Atiku’s camp said its focus remains on building support across the country and presenting solutions to Nigeria’s economic and security challenges ahead of the next general election.