Babachir Lawal Warns Nigerians Not to Vote Atiku in 2027 Election

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has told Nigerians not to support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 presidential election. He accused Atiku of engaging in ethnic politics.

Lawal shared his thoughts during a phone interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday night. He was responding to the ongoing issue with the African Democratic Congress governorship ticket in Adamawa State.

He claimed that Atiku wanted to replace the party’s governorship candidate, Suleiman Omar, with Tukur Modibbo. Lawal said, “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.”

Lawal also accused Atiku of using ethnic motives in his politics. He warned Nigerians against backing Atiku in the upcoming presidential election.

Atiku, on the other hand, denied all the accusations. He called them false and baseless. In a statement on Thursday, his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, said Atiku was not involved in any plans to change 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. It continued, “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.”

The statement pointed out that those making the claims were likely uneasy with the growing unity in the party. It said, “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 urged party members, supporters, and the public to ignore what it called “malicious propaganda.” Atiku insisted that the ADC was dedicated to due process, internal democracy, and the decisions of its constitutionally recognized organs.