Six NDC North-East Governorship Candidates Reject Babachir Lawal’s Appointment

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 regional leader.

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

Their opposition comes days after Lawal joined the party and was assigned to oversee its activities and campaigns in the region.

The six candidates said the appointment was made without consulting them or other stakeholders who had helped build the party’s structures and mobilise support across the zone.

“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 region should reflect grassroots realities, stressing that “politics is local.”

The candidates expressed concern that the appointment could harm the party’s electoral prospects in the six North-East states and would not add meaningful value.

They urged Dickson and other national leaders to review the decision and engage them in the interest of party unity and cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections.

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

While acknowledging the national leadership’s efforts to create a platform for political participation, the candidates insisted their position remained “collective, firm and final.”