The camp of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has dismissed allegations of manipulation in the party’s presidential primary made by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, insisting that no credible evidence was presented to support the claims.
In a statement issued by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President’s camp described the allegations as unsubstantiated and politically motivated.
According to the statement, the ADC presidential primary was conducted across thousands of wards nationwide and produced a clear outcome that reflected the will of party members. The camp argued that Lawal failed to provide documents, verifiable facts, credible witnesses, or any other proof to support his claims of irregularities.
Lawal had resigned from the ADC on Monday, criticising the outcome of the party’s presidential primary and alleging that the process was manipulated. However, Atiku’s camp maintained that the exercise was transparent and credible.
The statement also questioned Lawal’s consistency, noting that he appeared willing to accept the outcome of related contests within the party structure, including the emergence of his cousin, Omar Suleiman, as the ADC governorship candidate in Adamawa State.
Shaibu argued that Lawal only raised objections after the presidential primary failed to produce his preferred candidate, insisting that the allegations were unsupported by evidence.