Fresh tension has emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s camp strongly rejected allegations by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, that the party’s presidential primary was manipulated.
The response comes shortly after Lawal announced his resignation from the ADC and questioned the credibility of the party’s presidential primary process.
In a statement released by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President’s camp described the allegations as baseless, insisting that no proof has been provided to support the claims.
According to the statement, the ADC primary was conducted across numerous wards nationwide and produced what it called a clear outcome that reflected the decision of party members.
Shaibu argued that Lawal had failed to present any documents, witnesses, or verifiable evidence to back up his accusations, adding that serious allegations should be supported by facts rather than speculation.
The statement also questioned why Lawal appeared to accept the results of other contests conducted through the same party process, including the Adamawa governorship primary, while challenging the presidential outcome.
Atiku’s camp suggested that the criticism may have been driven more by dissatisfaction with the result than concerns about the integrity of the election.
The statement further stressed that democracy allows every aspirant the opportunity to compete but does not guarantee victory, warning against discrediting a process simply because the outcome was unfavorable.
It also cautioned against introducing ethnic or religious sentiments into internal political disagreements, describing such actions as divisive and unhelpful to national unity.
Despite the controversy, Atiku’s camp maintained that the former Vice President remains focused on issues affecting Nigerians, including governance, security, and economic recovery ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The latest exchange highlights growing tensions within the opposition party as political realignments and preparations for the 2027 presidential race continue to gather momentum.
Source: Statement by Phrank Shaibu on behalf of Atiku Abubakar
