Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pushed back against claims made by Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, regarding the conduct of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary. Through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku issued a statement on Tuesday categorically denying any wrongdoing.
Atiku accused Lawal of making sweeping accusations without offering any concrete proof. He asserted that Lawal spoke for nearly an hour without presenting a single document, petition, result sheet, witness statement, or recording to back his assertions. The former VP described the allegations as a toxic mix of bitterness, unfounded conjecture, and political revisionism disguised as concern for the public good.
The statement further suggested that Lawal’s disappointment stemmed from the defeat of his preferred candidate in the primary. Atiku posited that Lawal is simply a frustrated political figure unable to accept the outcome of a democratic process. He pointed out that Lawal openly backed another aspirant before the primary and is now attempting to frame his personal loss as a moral crusade.
Atiku also refuted the idea that he could single-handedly manipulate the votes of thousands of party delegates nationwide, calling such a notion unrealistic. He questioned how one person could control such a vast and dispersed electorate.
In addition, Atiku highlighted Lawal’s televised admission that he could easily obtain money from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu whenever he needed it. According to Atiku, Lawal boasted that a simple phone call to Tinubu would result in funds reaching him before he arrived home. Atiku urged Nigerians to reflect on the implications of such a statement and draw their own conclusions about Lawal’s character and motives.