Babachir Slams ADC Presidential Primary, Calls It Disgraceful

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and the presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday clashed over the conduct of the presidential primaries that produced the latter.

Lawal announced his resignation from ADC yesterday, accusing Atiku of rigging the primary election.

The former SGF said the primaries were “massively rigged” in favour of Atiku and his allies in a statement.

Lawal said, “I am quitting the ADC because its recent primaries were massively rigged in favour of Kachalla Abubakar Atiku at all levels.

“I feel the conspiracy of silence I want no part of. Most of the party members are acting as if this is what they should be doing.

‘Results were written or rewritten to favour him and his coven.

“Even in places where they permitted some sort of election to be held, the new winners were merely replaced by members of his syndicate.

“In the true sense it was an embarrassing charade.”

Atiku, in his response, described Lawal as a notorious conflict entrepreneur who was entitled to his political views and decisions.

In a statement in Abuja, the Atiku Media office said that while Lawal was within his rights to resign from ADC, political parties are voluntary associations of people, and the former ADC chieftain was not entitled to cast aspersions on Atiku on the basis of false allegations.

It said accusing Atiku of religious bigotry or nepotism is one of the laziest and most ridiculous lies that someone can peddle against the former vice president.

The statement described Atiku as one of the most liberal politicians in Nigeria, and his record on that score was there for all to see.

“We are of the opinion that Babachir was describing his own character and not that of Atiku,” the statement said. The former SGF is seeking power on the altar of dividing the people on the basis of primordial sentiments.

“All his rows with people are due to his selfishness. He opportunistically panders to sentiments for his ambition. “There is no larger interest of his people or of Nigeria that informs any of his struggles.”

The statement said Lawal was not qualified to speak on what was good for Nigeria.

It said, “When Babachir said he resigned from ADC because of the so-called rigging or manipulations during the primaries, he did not tender any proof of his allegations.

“Instead of proving his allegations, he went ahead to drag Atiku’s family into the matter that was not connected to the primaries.

‘The former SGF has published so much garbage that it is clear that he has personal bitterness against Atiku Abubakar.’

The statement called on Lawal to look inward and desist from dividing and bigotry among Nigerians for his personal gains.

“There is no such thing as a Muslim and Christian party in Nigeria,” said Atiku media office. If the results of a competition are not in your favour, you should file a petition with the party to prove manipulations or rigging. But it is most irresponsible for a former SGF to become an agent of disunity.

Lawal was also taken to task by Atiku’s camp in another statement for his outburst against Atiku.

The statement condemned the former SGF for his criticism of ADC’s presidential primary, accusing him of making unsubstantiated allegations and attempting to discredit a democratic process he could not influence.

Lawal who announced his resignation from the party yesterday had accused Atiku of influencing the outcome of the party’s primaries held across the country.

The previous SGF, who questioned the credibility of the exercise, said the process was compromised.

But the Atiku camp, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, accused Lawal of trying to denigrate the party and its members without any evidence.

“The decision to impugn a democratic process, insult thousands of ADC members across the country and make grave allegations without presenting a shred of evidence necessitated the need to set the record straight,” the statement said.

Shaibu debunked claims of manipulation of the ADC presidential primary, saying the exercise was the will of party members across the nation.

Lawal presented no evidence to support his assertions of electoral manipulation, he said.

“The truth is plain. The ADC presidential primaries were held in thousands of wards and produced a clear and decisive result. What Mr. Lawal offered the people of Nigeria is not evidence.

He has produced no documents, no verifiable facts, no credible witnesses and no evidence whatsoever to back up his sensational allegations.

Wike: Atiku, Obi are hypocrites, cannot offer better democratic alternatives

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has attacked the presidential candidates of the ADC, Atiku and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, describing them as hypocrites, who have no better democratic alternatives to offer to Nigeria.

Wike yesterday opened up the verbal onslaught at his monthly media briefing in Abuja.

“The recent primaries of the opposition parties saw an eruption of criticisms which showed the contradictions between their public posture and internal practices,” he said.

He said the controversies that followed the congresses had undermined claims that the opposition parties provided a credible alternative to the country’s established political parties.

He said the same parties and politicians who have accused the ruling party of sabotaging democracy were now being accused of the same by their own party.

“They said they are the saviours, who will come and rescue Nigeria. Wike said Now what has happened? They told Nigerians that they were the new face of democracy and the alternative platform for change.

“But what we have seen is that even within their structures there are allegations of irregularities and protests over congresses and primaries.

The minister said the developments had exposed attempts to hoodwink Nigerians with claims of moral ascendancy.

Nigerians now know that they are all liars. “They are not going to fool the people anymore,” he added.

Wike reasoned that the developments should encourage Nigerians to critically evaluate political actors on the basis of their conduct and not campaign rhetoric.

He took a swipe at Obi, saying he is running away from struggle and only likes a politics of ready food.

“In Nigeria you must be able to face challenges and not run at the first sight of trouble. “The worst type of leader is the one who sees the problem but is unable to make decisions to fix it,” he said.

The minister has argued that there was no law prohibiting him from owning a house in the United States in response to a claim by activist, Omoyele Sowore.

Wike cautioned Sowore about spreading rumors about government officials.

“So, Sowore will come and sell you all sorts of stories. Why has he not talked about the houses in Florida that he says I own until now? Till today where is it ? These are the kind of people you call the human rights activists.

You can’t start to spread rumours against government officials, it’s not right. There is no law that says I should not own a house at all. But I don’t have a house there.”

Wike also dismissed the endorsement of the former President Goodluck Jonathan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying that one who has not shown interest to contest an office or accepted the nomination cannot be picked.

Wike said the only recognised presidential candidate of the party in the 2027 election is Sen. Sandy Onor.

He urged the police to arrest those projecting the candidacy of Jonathan and causing problem in the political.

“In Nigerian politics, a candidate is not known by body language,” Wike said. A candidate is someone who has contested an election and has won and the results are announced with a certificate of return issued.

“It is wrong to project Jonathan as presidential candidate when he has not said anything on the matter himself. I will not tolerate any breach of peace in FCT.”

Wike said only the PDP national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and not anybody’s private office or bedroom, adding that the party’s official decisions can only emanate from its recognised organs and headquarters.