ADC Primary Was Disgraceful – Babachir Lawal

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

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

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 in which I want no part. Most party members are acting as though this is what they should be doing.

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

“Even where they permitted some semblance of election to take place, the winners were simply replaced with members of his syndicate.

“In the true sense it was a shameful charade.”

In his response, Atiku 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.

The statement said accusing Atiku of religious bigotry or nepotism is one of the laziest and most ridiculous lies anyone can spread against the former vice president.

According to the statement, Atiku was one of the most liberal politicians in Nigeria and his record in this regard was there for anyone to verify.

“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.

“His selfishness causes all his rows with people. He opportunistically panders to sentiments for his ambition. “None of his struggles are influenced by the larger interests of his people or Nigeria.”

The statement said Lawal was not qualified to talk about what was good for Nigeria.

It read, “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.

“Rather than proving his claims, he went further to drag Atiku’s family into the matter that was not related to the primaries.

“It is clear from the volume of garbage that the former SGF has published that he has personal animosity against Atiku Abubakar.”

The statement advised Lawal to look within himself and stop creating divisions and bigotry among Nigerians for his own selfish interests.

“There is no such thing as a Muslim and Christian party in Nigeria,” said Atiku media office. When the outcome of a competition does not favour you, you should petition the party to show proof of manipulations or rigging. But it is most irresponsible for a former SGF to become an agent of division.”

In a separate statement from Atiku’s camp, they also took on Lawal over 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.

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

The former SGF, who doubted the credibility of the exercise, said the process was compromised.

But the Atiku camp, through 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 malign a democratic process, insult thousands of ADC members nationwide, and make grave allegations without presenting a shred of evidence necessitated that the record be set straight,” the statement said.

Shaibu dismissed claims of manipulation of the ADC presidential primary, saying the exercise represented the will of party members across the country.

Lawal had no evidence to back up his claims of electoral rigging, he said.

“The fact is simple. The ADC presidential primaries were held in thousands of wards and they resulted in a clear and decisive outcome. What Mr. Lawal has presented to the people of Nigeria is not proof.

“He has offered no documents, no verifiable facts, no credible witnesses and no evidence whatsoever to support his sensational allegations.”

Wike: Atiku, Obi are hypocrites who cannot give better democratic alternatives

The 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 unleashed the verbal attack yesterday at his monthly media briefing in Abuja.

He said the criticisms that erupted over the recent primaries of the opposition parties exposed the contradictions between their public posturing and internal practices.

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 parties and politicians that have been repeatedly accusing the ruling party of undermining democracy were now facing similar allegations within their 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 can’t keep fooling the people,” he said.

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

He took a swipe at Obi, accusing him of avoiding struggle and only preferring a food is ready politics.

“In Nigeria, you have to be able to face challenges rather than run at the first sign of trouble. The worst kind of leader is someone who sees the problem but is unable to make decisions to fix it,” he said.

Activist, Omoyele Sowore had claimed that the minister owns a house in the United States and the minister responded that there is no law that prohibits him from owning a house in the United States.

Wike warned Sowore against spreading rumors against government officials.

He said, “So, Sowore comes and sells all kinds of stories to you. Why hasn’t he talked about the houses he says I have in Florida 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 saying I shouldn’t 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 Senator Sandy Onor is the only recognised presidential candidate of the party in the 2027 election.

He called on the police to arrest those projecting the candidacy of Jonathan and causing problem in the polity.

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

“It is wrong to project Jonathan as a presidential candidate when he has not spoken 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.