Atiku Says Fmr SGF, Lawal, Resorted To Blackmail After Failed Bid To Rig ADC Presidential Primary

By Ayodele Oni

Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Abubakar Atiku has hit back at the former Secretary to Government of the Federation, (SGF), Babachir Lawal, accusing him of resorting to blackmail after his failed bid to rig the ADC presidential primary.

Lawal, had since the conclusion of the ADC primary accused Atiku of rigging the election, and insisted that he is not fit to occupy the presidential seat.

The former SGF has also announced his resignation from the ADC, pointing out that the ADC presidential primary results were written to favour Atiku, insisting he won’t be part of the former vice president’s rigging machine in the 2027 presidential election.

He added that Atiku is incompetent and a tribal, religious bigot, who shouldn’t come close to the presidential office.

“I want no part in this conspiracy of silence. I am exiting the ADC because its just concluded primaries were at all levels massively rigged in favour of Kachalla Abubakar Atiku,” Lawal stated.

He said legitimate winners were sidelined and replaced by preferred candidates loyal to Atiku, undermining the party’s internal democracy.

In his latest criticism of Atiku, the former SGF, urged ADC to consider presenting a presidential candidate other than Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 general election, arguing that the opposition party would stand a better chance of defeating the ruling party with a more broadly acceptable contender.

According to him, the ADC must prioritize electoral viability and national appeal if it hopes to mount a serious challenge to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The former SGF maintained that while Atiku remains a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, the party should carefully assess whether he represents its strongest option for attracting support across the country.

He argued that opposition parties must focus on identifying a candidate capable of uniting diverse political interests and expanding their voter base.

Atiku, through his media aide, Paul Ibe stated on Sunday that “Babachir Lawal was in a state of stupor, while Atiku was condemning, empathising and proffering solutions to terrorist, banditry attacks in Benue, Plateau, others

“We read with amusement but concern for the mental state of former SGF Babachir Lawal, his latest attempt at revisionism of his disgraceful public service record and failed efforts to cause the rigging of the ADC presidential primary.

“It is becoming obvious that Babachir Lawal is going bunkers possibly from the abuse of booze.

“Instead of addressing the issue of his ignominious role in presiding over a scam in which he allegedly extorted money to deliver the presidential ticket, but failed because those charged with the responsibility of conducting the election stopped him in his tracks, Babachir Lawal has resorted to personal attacks against Atiku Abubakar.

“Babachir Lawal may have been preoccupied with hitting the sauce, but it is public record that the Waziri had always spoken against terrorist and banditry attacks and shown empathy to communities that were attacked.

“Despite the fact that Atiku Abubakar is Fulani from Adamawa, in the North East region, the ADC presidential candidate in the 2027 election, has frequently spoken out and forcefully too in condemnation of terrorist and banditry attacks and the escalating wave of kidnappings across Nigeria.

“When responding to these incidents, he often criticizes the Federal Government and the leader of the government of the day, and in this dispensation, President Bola Tinubu, arguing that the country’s security architecture is collapsing and that officials rely on “empty statements” rather than taking decisive, preventive action.

“It is also on record that the Waziri Adamawa advocates for an overhaul of Nigeria’s counterterrorism framework.

“He has frequently called on the National Assembly to pass legislation that would allow state governments to arm their own security outfits with modern weapons to complement overstretched federal forces.

“Atiku Abubakar has also highlighted the importance of localized efforts, urging community members to provide intelligence to security agencies and avoiding acting as informants for armed groups.

“In addition, he has proposed the creation of a National Victims and Survivors Support Framework to ensure that affected communities receive psychological support, educational opportunities, and economic recovery programmes.

“In one of his most recent engagements, the former Vice President proposed for a Special Courts to not only try these criminals but that those found guilty be handed capital punishment.

“When Babachir Lawal is eventually sober, he may wish to take out time to review some of the links of news reports in which Atiku Abubakar spoke against terrorist and banditry attacks and proferred solutions.

“Those engagements covered every state of the country without exception.”