2027: Ex-SGF Babachir warns Nigerians against voting Atiku

A 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, accusing him of playing ethnic politics.

Lawal made the remarks during a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday night while reacting to the controversy surrounding the African Democratic Congress governorship ticket in Adamawa State.

He alleged that Atiku was behind moves to replace the party’s governorship candidate, 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.”

Lawal further alleged that Atiku’s politics was driven by ethnic considerations and warned Nigerians against supporting him in the next presidential election.

However, Atiku denied the allegations, describing them 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 plot to replace the ADC governorship candidate in the 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 read.

It added, “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 claims 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 stated.

The statement urged party members, supporters and the public to disregard what it described as “malicious propaganda.”

He insisted that the ADC remained committed to due process, internal democracy and the decisions of its constitutionally recognised organs.