The media office of the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed allegations made by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, following his resignation from the party.
Lawal had announced his exit from the ADC on Monday, alleging that the party's recently concluded primaries were manipulated in favour of Atiku and his loyalists.
However, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the Atiku Media Office described the allegations as unfounded and accused the former SGF of making claims without evidence.
The statement said while Lawal was within his rights to leave the party, he was not justified in making what it described as false accusations against the former vice president.
According to the media office, claims portraying Atiku as a religious bigot or a politician driven by sectional interests were inconsistent with his political record.
The statement maintained that Atiku had, over the years, demonstrated a commitment to inclusiveness and national unity, adding that his public service record was available for scrutiny.
The media office further accused Lawal of pursuing personal interests and exploiting divisive narratives for political purposes.
It stated, “Babachir was merely describing his own character rather than that of Atiku. His political engagements have often been driven by personal ambition rather than the broader interests of Nigeria and its people.”
The Atiku camp also faulted Lawal's allegations of irregularities during the ADC primaries, noting that he failed to provide any evidence to support his claims.
According to the statement, rather than presenting proof of alleged manipulation, the former SGF introduced unrelated personal issues into the public discourse.
The media office said it was evident that Lawal harboured personal grievances against the former vice president.
It urged the ex-SGF to refrain from actions and comments capable of deepening divisions among Nigerians, stressing that political disagreements should be addressed through established party mechanisms.
“There is no such thing as a Muslim party or a Christian party in Nigeria. Anyone dissatisfied with the outcome of an election should utilise available channels to seek redress and present evidence of any wrongdoing,” the statement added.
The Atiku camp further described attempts to frame political contests along religious lines as irresponsible and detrimental to national cohesion.
The statement was issued by the Atiku Media Office and dated June 1, 2026.
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