Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has made allegations against some governorship candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). He claims they are working against the party's presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso. Lawal specifically accused the NDC governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, of organizing a protest against his appointment as the party's leader in the North-East.
The protest was led by six NDC governorship candidates in the North-East, who rejected Lawal's appointment and stated they would not recognize him as the leader of the party in the region. The candidates include Ahmed of Adamawa, Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim of Bauchi, Rear Admiral S. Kashim Ibrahim of Borno, Dr Babayo Ardo of Gombe, Professor Mohammed Sani of Taraba, and Ibrahim M. Shitu of Yobe. However, Lawal mentioned that Ardo and Sani had contacted him to dissociate themselves from the statement.
Lawal alleged that Ahmed was working for the interest of former Vice-President and presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar. He claimed to have good authority that the protest was being led and organized by Ahmed, whom he described as a "female pretender" to the governorship candidacy of Adamawa State. Lawal stated that his appointment as the party's leader in the North-East was a decision of the national leadership of the NDC.
According to Lawal, his return to the NDC followed discussions with the party's leadership and other political figures who wanted him to rejoin the leadership team of Obi's presidential campaign. He served as chairman of the Planning, Strategy and Implementation team of the Obi campaign in the 2023 election. Lawal alleged that his entry into the NDC had unsettled individuals working against the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
Lawal claimed that some rival political interests had planted "moles" within the NDC, including at the level of governorship candidates, to undermine the party's presidential campaign in the North-East. He stated that he knew his joining the NDC at this stage posed a major threat to those working for Atiku from within the NDC as subversives of the Peter/Kwankwaso ticket.
Lawal also questioned Ahmed's political activities in Adamawa, alleging that he observed little evidence of NDC activity across the state during his visit between August 25 and September 10. He further alleged that Ahmed had attempted to replace the party's recognized state executives with her own appointees, a move that was rejected by the NDC National Working Committee.
The former SGF urged NDC members in the North-East to disregard the "antics" of those opposing his appointment and concentrate on winning the party's candidates in the 2027 elections. He argued that the party would also be contesting Senate, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly seats across the six states of the North-East. Lawal maintained that the popularity of Obi and Kwankwaso would benefit the party's candidates in the region.
Key points
- Babachir Lawal accuses Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed of working for Atiku Abubakar's interest.
- Six NDC governorship candidates in the North-East rejected Lawal's appointment as the party's leader.
- Lawal urges NDC members to focus on winning the 2027 elections despite internal disputes.
