‘No Amount Of Bitterness Can Alter Reality’ — Atiku Blasts Babachir Over ADC Primary Election Claims

The media office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, of allowing “post-primary bitterness” to cloud his judgement following his criticism of the presidential primaries of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that “no amount of post-primary bitterness can alter reality.”

The position was contained in a statement signed and released by Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to the Presidential Candidate of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar, in response to comments made by Babachir over the outcome of the party’s recent presidential election process.

“The 2027 election will not be decided by tantrums, ethnic dog whistles, recycled grievances, or revisionist history. It will be decided by the Nigerian people. And no amount of post-primary bitterness can alter that reality,”

The Atiku media office said Babachir’s remarks amounted to “a lengthy and emotionally charged outburst” and described his allegations against the primary election as unfounded.

“Ordinarily, Mr. Lawal’s latest excursion into political fiction would not merit a response. However, having chosen to malign a democratic process, insult thousands of ADC members nationwide, and make grave allegations without presenting a shred of evidence, it has become necessary to set the record straight,” the statement said.

The statement argued that it was ironic for Babachir to present himself as an advocate of transparency and democratic values, given the circumstances surrounding his exit from public office.

“It is perhaps the greatest irony of this entire episode that Mr. Babachir Lawal now seeks to reinvent himself as Nigeria’s newest apostle of integrity, transparency, and democratic virtue. Nigerians may forgive many things, but they seldom forget history.

“Mr. Lawal is not remembered for any celebrated crusade for accountability. Rather, he remains one of the most prominent public officials ever removed from office under the cloud of the infamous grass-cutting contract scandal.”

According to the statement, Babachir’s public service record makes his criticism of the ADC primary process difficult to reconcile.

“It is therefore remarkable that a man whose public service career became synonymous with questions of conflict of interest and abuse of office now wishes to lecture Nigerians on electoral integrity.

“That one of the most recognizable faces from that era now seeks to occupy the moral high ground is not merely ironic; it is political satire writing itself.”

The Atiku camp insisted that the ADC presidential primaries were conducted across thousands of wards and produced what it described as a clear and decisive outcome.

“The truth is straightforward. The ADC presidential primaries were conducted across thousands of wards and produced a clear and decisive outcome.

“What Mr. Lawal has offered Nigerians is not evidence. He has produced no documents, no verifiable facts, no credible witnesses, and no proof whatsoever to support his sensational allegations.”

The statement further accused Lawal of relying on conspiracy theories and personal attacks instead of presenting facts.

“Instead, he has served up a familiar cocktail of disappointment, bitterness, conspiracy theories, and personal attacks against a political leader whose national appeal continues to transcend the narrow confines of factional politics.”

The Atiku media office also highlighted what it described as contradictions in Lawal’s position on electoral malpractice.

“Even more revealing is the contradiction at the heart of his statement. In one breath, he condemns what he calls electoral manipulation. In the next, he openly admires and celebrates what he describes as President Tinubu’s ‘superior rigging machine.’

“Nigerians are therefore entitled to ask a simple question: if rigging is indeed an unforgivable crime, why does Mr. Lawal appear almost fascinated by it when he imagines it might serve his preferred political outcome?”

The statement further accused Lawal of resorting to ethnic and religious sentiments after failing to secure support for his preferred candidate.