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, as the party’s leader in the region.

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

Lawal joined the NDC days ago and was subsequently assigned responsibility for coordinating the party’s activities and campaigns across the North-East.

The six candidates said the appointment was made without consulting them or other stakeholders involved in establishing 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 decisions affecting the party in the region should reflect the views of its grassroots stakeholders, stressing that political realities are largely determined at the local level.

The candidates also expressed concern that Lawal’s appointment could affect the party’s prospects in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states. They said they did not believe the decision would strengthen the party’s electoral position in the region.

According to them, consultation with the governorship candidates before the appointment would have enabled the national leadership to better understand the political situation and concerns in the six states.

They called on Dickson and other national leaders to reconsider the appointment and engage with them in an effort to preserve unity within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

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

The candidates acknowledged the NDC leadership’s efforts to provide a platform for political participation ahead of the 2027 elections but said their position on 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.