NDC Gov’ship Candidates Reject Babachir Lawal As North-East Leader

A fresh crisis is brewing within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as six governorship candidates in the North-East have rejected the appointment of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, as the party’s leader in the region.

The candidates, in a joint statement addressed to the NDC national leadership and National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, said they would not recognise Lawal in the role assigned to him.

Their position came days after Lawal joined the opposition party and was handed responsibility for overseeing its activities and campaigns across the North-East.

The governorship candidates said the decision was made without consultation with them or other stakeholders who, according to them, had been instrumental in building the party’s structures and mobilising support across the region.

“After due consideration, we have unanimously resolved not to recognise Engr. Babachir Lawal as the Leader of the NDC in the North-East, and we will not recognise him as such,” they stated.

They argued that political decisions affecting the six North-East states should reflect the views of those operating at the grassroots, stressing that “politics is local.”

The candidates also expressed concern that Lawal’s appointment could undermine the party’s prospects in the region, saying they did not believe his emergence would add electoral value to the NDC.

They maintained that consulting the governorship candidates before making the appointment would have enabled the national leadership to better understand the political realities and concerns in the zone.

The candidates urged Dickson and other national leaders to reconsider the appointment and engage with them in order to preserve unity and cohesion within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The statement was signed by Aishatu Dahiru Ahamed of Adamawa, Barr. Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim of Bauchi, Rear Admiral S. Kashim Ibrahim (retd.) of Borno, Dr Babayo Ardo of Gombe, Prof. Mohammed Sani of Taraba and Ibrahim M. Shitu of Yobe.

While acknowledging the efforts of the NDC leadership in creating a platform for political participation ahead of the 2027 elections, the six candidates insisted that their opposition to Lawal’s appointment remained unchanged.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our position is collective, firm and final: we do not recognise Engr. Babachir Lawal as the Leader of the NDC in the North-East, and we will not recognise him as such,” they said.

Lawal joined the NDC about three months after resigning from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over alleged manipulation of its presidential primary.

He announced his defection to the NDC in Abuja on Tuesday and declared support for the party’s presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso for the 2027 election.

The former SGF said Nigerians concerned about insecurity, hunger and other challenges confronting the country should support the NDC.

Lawal said he was convinced that patriotic Nigerians should support the party to achieve its objective of electing Obi as president and Kwankwaso as vice president in 2027.

Receiving him into the party, Dickson described Lawal as an experienced political mobiliser and activist capable of contributing to the party’s campaign efforts.

Dickson subsequently assigned Lawal a leadership role in the North-East, saying he would oversee NDC activities and campaigns in the region and provide guidance to candidates and campaign structures.