Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has made serious allegations against Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC. In an interview with Trust TV, Lawal claimed that Atiku manipulated the ADC presidential primary, leading to his departure from the party. Lawal, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, expressed concerns about the integrity of the primary process.
According to Lawal, he supported former presidential aspirant Hayatu-Deen, whom he considered the most capable among the contenders. As the party's state vice-chairman at the time, Lawal participated in constituting a seven-member committee to conduct the primaries. The party's guidelines provided for the appointment of the chairman and secretary, while the state nominated the remaining five members. Lawal's preference for Hayatu-Deen was clear from the beginning.
Lawal alleged that votes cast for other presidential aspirants were swapped in favor of Atiku during the exercise. He claimed that Hayatu-Deen won in his state, but the results were altered during the collation process. Votes recorded for Hayatu-Deen were allegedly credited to Atiku. Lawal questioned the alteration but was told that the party could not afford to disgrace Atiku, whom he described as its leader.
Lawal's attempts to protest the alleged manipulation were unsuccessful, as some party members urged him to accept the situation. He maintained that the alleged manipulation of the ADC presidential primary was the reason he left the party. Lawal's departure from the party was a result of his disagreement with the primary process.
The allegations made by Lawal have raised concerns about the integrity of the ADC presidential primary. Atiku Abubakar has not publicly responded to the allegations. The incident has sparked debate about the need for transparency and accountability in Nigeria's electoral processes.
Lawal's experience in politics dates back to 1987, and he has been a vocal advocate for good governance. His allegations against Atiku have sparked a new wave of controversy in Nigerian politics. The incident has highlighted the challenges faced by political parties in ensuring the integrity of their internal processes.
The ADC presidential primary has been a subject of interest, given the prominence of Atiku Abubakar in Nigerian politics. The allegations made by Lawal have added a new dimension to the story, raising questions about the legitimacy of Atiku's candidacy. The incident will likely continue to generate debate and discussion in the coming days.
Key points
- Babachir Lawal alleges that Atiku Abubakar rigged the ADC presidential primaries by swapping votes and manipulating the results.
