Atiku’s aide defends ADC primary, accuses APC of manipulating figures

By Dickson Omobola

Paul Ibe, the media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, maintains that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary, which elected Atiku as its candidate, was conducted in a free, fair and credible manner.

Ibe contrasted the ADC process with that of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that the APC had fabricated figures during its own primary elections. He said the ADC deliberately slowed down the primary timeline to allow its election petitions committee to investigate any corruption allegations that surfaced.

Speaking on Prime Time, an Arise TV programme on Thursday, Ibe urged Nigerians to decide whether they would accept another four years of hardship in 2027 or support Atiku instead.

He stated, “Every election, every combination brings disputes over the process or the outcome. Even siblings can disagree. It is legitimate for people to raise concerns about an election. What matters is that the ADC has a mechanism to address such allegations. We have an elections petition committee in place.”

“When allegations were raised, the process was deliberately slowed down to give the committee time to examine them. We are not like the APC, which is already manufacturing figures as a rehearsal for a possible 2027 election,” he added.

“In the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the primaries, and we strived to ensure that our process was free, fair and credible. That is what transpired. Allegations were made, and until they are substantiated, they remain allegations.”

On why Nigerians should vote for Atiku in 2027, Ibe said, “Every election has its peculiarities, and the 2027 election will be a referendum on the incompetence and cluelessness that have characterized Bola Tinubu’s government.”

“Nigerians must decide whether they want another four years of pain and tears. It is up to us to make that determination.”

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