Phrank Shaibu, spokesperson to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed Babachir Lawal’s allegations that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primaries were rigged in favour of Atiku.

Responding to Lawal’s resignation from the party, Shaibu said the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation failed to provide any evidence to support his claims of electoral manipulation. He argued that Lawal lacks the moral standing to lecture others on electoral integrity, citing his removal from office in 2017 over the controversial N544.1 billion grass-cutting scandal.

Shaibu also accused Lawal of selective outrage, noting that while he rejected the outcome of the presidential primary, he did not challenge the emergence of his cousin, Omar Suleiman, as the ADC governorship candidate in Adamawa State.

According to Shaibu, if the primaries were truly flawed, Lawal should reject all outcomes from the exercise rather than only those that did not favour his preferred candidates. He added that the 2027 election would ultimately be decided by Nigerians, not by the grievances of politicians dissatisfied with primary election results.