Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have clashed over the conduct of the party’s presidential primaries that produced the latter.
Lawal announced his resignation from the ADC, citing alleged irregularities in the primary election, which he claimed was massively rigged in favour of Atiku and his allies.
In a statement, the former SGF said, “I am exiting the ADC because its just concluded primaries were, at all levels, massively rigged in favour of Kachalla Abubakar Atiku.
“I sense a conspiracy of silence, of which I want no part. Most members of the party are behaving as if this is the norm.
“Results were simply written or rewritten to favour him and his associates. Even where there was a semblance of an election, declared winners were replaced with members of his syndicate.
“In reality, it was a disgraceful charade.”
Responding, Atiku described Lawal as a “conflict entrepreneur,” stating that while he is entitled to his political views and decisions, he is not justified in making what he termed baseless allegations.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Atiku’s media office noted that political parties are voluntary associations, and Lawal has the right to resign, but not to cast aspersions without evidence.
The statement further described allegations of religious bigotry or nepotism against Atiku as “lazy and ridiculous,” insisting that the former vice president is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most liberal politicians.
“As far as we are concerned, Babachir was merely describing his own character rather than Atiku’s. The former SGF seeks power by exploiting divisions based on primordial sentiments.
“His altercations are driven by selfish interests, and he opportunistically panders to sentiments to advance his ambitions, rather than serving the broader interests of Nigeria,” the statement said.
It added that Lawal failed to provide any credible evidence to substantiate his claims of manipulation during the primaries and instead introduced irrelevant issues, including references to Atiku’s family.
“It is evident from the tone of his remarks that he harbours personal animosity against Atiku Abubakar,” the statement added, urging him to refrain from promoting division and bigotry.
In a separate statement, Atiku’s camp, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, also rejected the allegations, insisting that the ADC presidential primaries reflected the will of party members across the country.
“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 maintained that Lawal failed to provide documents, verifiable facts, credible witnesses, or any proof to support his claims.
“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.
Meanwhile, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticised Atiku Abubakar and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, describing them as hypocrites who cannot offer Nigerians a credible democratic alternative.
Wike made the remarks during his monthly media briefing in Abuja, where he argued that controversies surrounding opposition party primaries have exposed contradictions between their public rhetoric and internal practices.
“They claimed to be the saviours who would rescue Nigeria and present a new face of democracy. However, what we are witnessing are allegations of irregularities and protests within their own ranks,” he said.
According to Wike, such developments undermine claims of moral superiority by opposition figures and should prompt Nigerians to critically assess political actors based on their actions rather than campaign promises.
“Nigerians now know better. They cannot continue to deceive the people,” he added.
The minister also criticised Peter Obi, accusing him of avoiding difficult political struggles and preferring what he described as a “ready-made” approach to leadership.
“In Nigeria, leadership requires resilience and the ability to confront challenges head-on. The worst kind of leader is one who identifies problems but lacks the courage to make decisions,” Wike said.
Responding to allegations by activist Omoyele Sowore, Wike maintained that there is no law prohibiting him from owning property in the United States, while denying claims that he owns a house in Florida.
He cautioned against the spread of unverified allegations against public officials.
Wike also dismissed speculation surrounding the endorsement of former President Goodluck Jonathan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that no individual can be considered a candidate without formally declaring and participating in the electoral process.
He further asserted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognises only the PDP national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, as the party’s official authority for decision-making.
Emphasising the need for order, Wike warned against actions capable of disrupting public peace, noting that political processes must follow established legal and institutional frameworks.