The camp of the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed allegations of irregularities in the party’s presidential primary, accusing former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, of attempting to discredit a democratic process without presenting any evidence.
The rebuttal followed Lawal’s resignation from the ADC and his criticism of the party’s presidential primary, which produced Atiku as its flagbearer for the 2027 general election.
In a statement issued on Monday by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President’s camp maintained that the primary election was transparent and reflected the wishes of party members across the country.
Shaibu said the allegations levelled against the exercise were unfounded, insisting that no credible evidence had been presented to support claims that the process was manipulated.
According to him, the primary was conducted across numerous wards nationwide and produced a clear outcome accepted by party members.
He argued that Lawal’s criticism amounted to an attempt to undermine both the party and thousands of its members, stressing that accusations of rigging should be backed by verifiable facts rather than speculation.
The statement further questioned Lawal’s position, noting that he appeared willing to accept the outcome of the same primary process in contests where individuals close to him emerged victorious.
Shaibu said Nigerians were entitled to ask why the process was considered acceptable in some instances but allegedly flawed when it produced a presidential candidate Lawal did not support.
The Atiku camp also suggested that the former SGF’s objections were driven more by dissatisfaction with the result than by genuine concerns about electoral integrity.
“Democracy guarantees participation, not victory,” the statement said, adding that political actors should not condemn a process simply because it failed to favour their preferred candidate.
The statement also criticised what it described as attempts to introduce ethnic and religious considerations into the debate, warning that such narratives do not address the country’s pressing economic and security challenges.
Defending Atiku’s credentials, Shaibu said the former Vice President remained focused on presenting solutions to Nigeria’s problems, including economic recovery, national unity and improved governance.
He maintained that the outcome of the ADC presidential primary would not be altered by post-election disputes, stressing that the 2027 presidential election would ultimately be decided by Nigerians at the polls.
“The Nigerian people will determine the next leadership of the country based on issues that affect their lives, not on grievances arising from party contests,” the statement added.
