The camp of African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed allegations by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, that the party’s presidential primary was manipulated.
The rebuttal followed Lawal’s resignation from the ADC on Monday, during which he accused Atiku of influencing the outcome of the party’s presidential primary elections conducted across the country. Lawal questioned the credibility of the exercise and alleged that the process had been compromised.
Reacting to the claims, Atiku’s camp, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the allegations as baseless and unsupported by any credible evidence.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Shaibu accused the former SGF of attempting to tarnish the image of both the party and its members by making serious accusations without 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 ADC presidential primary was conducted in a transparent manner and reflected the collective will of party members across the country.
He further challenged Lawal to provide evidence to substantiate his claims of electoral manipulation, insisting that none had been presented.
“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 has produced no documents, no verifiable facts, no credible witnesses, and no proof whatsoever to support his sensational allegations,” the statement added.
The latest exchange highlights growing tensions within the ADC following the conclusion of its presidential primary ahead of the 2027 general elections.