Atiku’s aide slams Babachir Lawal over claims of rigged ADC primaries
Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has criticised former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, over allegations that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primary elections were manipulated.
Lawal, who announced his resignation from the ADC on Monday, alleged that the party’s recently concluded primaries were “massively rigged” in favour of Atiku and his political allies.
The ADC conducted nationwide direct primaries last month to select candidates for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and state assembly positions ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party also held its presidential primary, where Atiku secured 1,846,370 votes to defeat former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who polled 504,117 votes, and former FSB International Bank Managing Director Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who garnered 177,120 votes.
Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen subsequently rejected the outcome and boycotted the official announcement of the presidential primary results in Abuja.
Responding to Lawal’s allegations, Shaibu dismissed the claims as baseless, arguing that the former SGF had failed to provide any evidence to support his assertions.
“He has produced no documents, no verifiable facts, no credible witnesses, and no proof whatsoever to support his sensational allegations,” Shaibu said in a statement.
Shaibu further questioned Lawal’s credibility on matters of transparency and accountability, citing his removal from office in 2017 following his indictment in the controversial N544.1 million grass-cutting contract scandal during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
