Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has urged Nigerians not to support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 presidential election.
Lawal accused Atiku of playing ethnic politics.
He spoke in a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday night while reacting to the controversy surrounding the African Democratic Congress governorship ticket in Adamawa State.
The former SGF alleged that Atiku was behind moves to replace the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Suleiman Omar, with Tukur Modibbo.
“Atiku Abubakar wants to replace Suleiman Omar as the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in Adamawa State with Alhaji Tukur Modibbo.
“He wants to bring Modibbo to replace Omar, who was elected at the primaries,” he alleged.
Lawal further claimed that Atiku’s political activities were driven by ethnic considerations and warned Nigerians against supporting him in the 2027 presidential election.
However, Atiku denied the allegation, describing it as false and baseless.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president said he had no involvement in any alleged plan to replace the ADC governorship candidate in Adamawa State.
“The allegations are entirely false, baseless and the product of the fertile imagination of those determined to create unnecessary tension within the ADC,” the statement said.
“At no time has His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, held any meeting, issued any directive or participated in any discussion aimed at replacing the duly nominated governorship candidate of the party in Adamawa State.”
According to the statement, those behind the allegation were uncomfortable with the growing unity within the party.
“Those behind this fabrication are clearly uncomfortable with the growing unity and momentum within the ADC and have resorted to peddling falsehood in a desperate bid to sow discord where none exists,” it added.
The statement urged party members, supporters and the public to disregard what it described as “malicious propaganda.”
It maintained that the ADC remained committed to due process, internal democracy and decisions taken by its constitutionally recognised organs.
