Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). This move comes ahead of the 2027 general election, where Lawal is expected to support the presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso. The defection follows a meeting with the party's National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, at the former Bayelsa State governor's residence in Abuja.
Lawal's defection to the NDC is a significant shift in the opposition political landscape. Prior to this, he had resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on June 1, following the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party's presidential candidate. Lawal had strongly opposed Atiku's emergence, accusing the ADC presidential primary of being manipulated in favor of the former vice president.
The former SGF had alleged that the results from the primary were altered to favor Atiku and that some candidates who allegedly won their contests were replaced. Atiku's camp rejected the allegations, maintaining that his emergence reflected the outcome of the ADC presidential primary. Atiku was declared the winner after polling 1,846,370 votes, ahead of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
Lawal had also argued that backing Atiku would improve President Bola Tinubu's chances of securing a second term. However, despite his criticism of the Tinubu administration, Lawal subsequently stated that he would choose Tinubu if the only options before Nigerians were the incumbent president and Atiku. He described Tinubu as the lesser of two devils compared to what Atiku would bring to Nigeria.
Lawal's latest move to the NDC marks another significant development in the opposition political landscape ahead of the 2027 election. He had previously supported Peter Obi when the former Anambra State governor contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party. The NDC is currently preparing its campaign structure for the 2027 election, with Obi as its presidential candidate and Kwankwaso as his running mate.
The NDC has recently received judicial backing to participate in the 2027 elections after the Court of Appeal in Abuja set aside a Federal High Court judgment that had affected the party's registration. Dickson described the appellate decision as an affirmation of the party's place in Nigeria's multiparty democratic system. The party said on September 22 that consultations were at an advanced stage over the constitution and inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council.
The NDC's Presidential Campaign Council is expected to be constituted soon, with Obi and Kwankwaso given a free hand to nominate most of the council's principal officers. Lawal's defection is seen as a significant boost to the NDC's campaign ahead of the 2027 election. The party is expected to intensify its campaign efforts in the coming weeks.
Key points
- Babachir Lawal defects to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
- Lawal is expected to support the presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
- The NDC has received judicial backing to participate in the 2027 elections.
