Fresh disagreements have emerged within the African Democratic Congress following comments by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, questioning the process that produced Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.

Atiku, through his media aide, dismissed Lawal’s allegations as politically motivated and lacking credible evidence. He argued that the former SGF’s claims amounted to speculation rather than verifiable facts, noting that no documents, witnesses, recordings, or official complaints were presented to support the accusations.

The former vice president’s camp maintained that Lawal’s criticisms stemmed from disappointment over the failure of his preferred candidate to secure the party’s ticket.

According to Atiku’s team, Lawal openly supported another aspirant during the contest and is now attempting to portray personal dissatisfaction as a matter of principle.

Responding to the criticism, Lawal stood by his position, insisting that former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi worked harder than other contenders in pursuit of the ADC presidential nomination.

He explained that many party members believed Amaechi had a strong chance of winning because of his visible engagement with delegates and extensive efforts during the campaign period.

Lawal contrasted Amaechi’s active approach with Atiku’s relatively quiet strategy, saying party observers were surprised by the former vice president’s low-profile campaign and wondered how he intended to secure victory.

According to him, while Amaechi was actively reaching out to stakeholders and building support, Atiku appeared largely absent from the visible campaign process.

The exchange has added another layer of controversy to the aftermath of the ADC presidential primary, highlighting lingering divisions within the party as it prepares for future political contests.