Atiku Camp Fires Back at Babachir Lawal, Dismisses Primary Rigging Claims as “Substance-Induced Fabrication”
The media office of former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has launched a blistering response to former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, following his resignation from the party and allegations that the ADC presidential primaries were manipulated in Atiku’s favour.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the Atiku Media Office described Lawal’s remarks as “needless and senseless attacks” filled with “fabricated and brazen lies,” accusing the former SGF of attempting to sow division through what it called “substance-induced fabrication of lies.”
The statement maintained that while Babachir Lawal has every right to resign from the ADC because political parties are voluntary associations, he has no justification to malign Atiku Abubakar with allegations the camp insists are false and malicious.
The Atiku camp specifically rejected claims of religious bigotry and nepotism levelled against the former vice president, describing them as “lazy and ridiculous lies” against one of Nigeria’s “most liberal politicians.”
“As far as we are concerned, Babachir was perfectly describing his own character rather than Atiku’s,” the statement read.
The media office accused Lawal of exploiting ethnic and religious sentiments for personal political gain, alleging that his political interventions are driven more by selfish ambition than national interest.
“The former SGF seeks power on the altar of dividing the people based on primordial sentiments. All his altercations with people are caused by his selfishness,” the statement added.
The Atiku camp further argued that Lawal failed to provide any evidence to support his allegations that the ADC primaries were rigged or manipulated, noting that instead of substantiating his claims, he allegedly resorted to dragging Atiku’s family into the controversy.
“When Babachir said he resigned from ADC because of the so-called rigging or manipulations during the primaries, he didn’t offer any proof of his allegations,” the statement said.
The statement also described Lawal as a “conflict entrepreneur,” insisting that he was unqualified to lecture Nigerians on national unity or democratic conduct.
It warned against attempts to frame Nigerian politics along religious lines, stressing that “there is no such thing as a Muslim and Christian party in Nigeria.”
The Atiku Media Office advised Lawal to pursue legitimate internal party channels if he had grievances about the conduct of the primaries rather than “turning himself into an agent of division.”
