‘No Evidence’ — Atiku Dismisses Babachir Lawal’s ADC Rigging Claim

The camp of African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has rejected allegations of manipulation in the party’s presidential primary made by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.

Lawal, who recently resigned from the ADC, had alleged that the party’s presidential primary was rigged in favour of Atiku. However, Atiku’s camp described the claims as unsubstantiated, politically motivated, and lacking any credible evidence.

In a statement issued by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President said Lawal failed to provide proof to back his allegations.

“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 said.

Shaibu insisted that the ADC presidential primary was conducted transparently across thousands of wards in the country, producing a clear and decisive outcome reflecting the will of party members.

“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 said.

According to him, Lawal did not present any documents, verifiable facts, credible witnesses, or proof to support his claims of irregularities.

The statement also questioned Lawal’s consistency in accepting outcomes in other party processes while rejecting the presidential primary result.

It alleged that Lawal had no objections when outcomes favoured his interests but raised concerns only when the presidential result did not align with his preference.

Shaibu further referenced the emergence of Lawal’s relative as a governorship candidate in Adamawa State, suggesting selective acceptance of the same electoral process.

“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,” he said.

The statement also recalled Lawal’s past controversies, including his removal as Secretary to the Government of the Federation in 2017 over allegations linked to contract awards in the Presidential Initiative on the North-East, commonly known as the “grass-cutting scandal.”

Atiku’s camp concluded that Lawal’s criticisms were driven by dissatisfaction with the outcome of the primary rather than genuine concerns about internal democracy, stressing that democracy guarantees participation, not guaranteed victory.