Six NDC governorship candidates reject Babachir Lawal’s appointment as North-East leader

Six governorship candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the North-East have rejected the appointment of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, to lead the party’s activities in the region.

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

Their opposition comes days after Lawal joined the NDC and was assigned a leadership role overseeing the party’s activities and campaigns in the North-East.

The six candidates said the decision to appoint Lawal was taken without consulting them or other stakeholders who had been involved 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 said.

They argued that political decisions affecting the region should take into account the views of those operating at the grassroots, stressing that “politics is local.”

According to the candidates, they were concerned that Lawal’s appointment could affect the party’s prospects in the six North-East states, insisting that they did not believe the decision would add electoral value to the party.

They said prior consultation with the governorship candidates would have allowed the national leadership to better understand the political realities and concerns across the region.

The candidates therefore urged Dickson and other national leaders to review the appointment and engage them on the matter in the interest of party unity and cohesion ahead of the 2027 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 providing a platform for political participation ahead of the 2027 elections, the candidates maintained that their objection 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.