Six governorship candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the North-East region have rejected the appointment of Engr. Babachir Lawal as the party's leader. In a joint statement, they stated that the decision was made without consultation with them or other key stakeholders. The candidates, who signed the statement, include Aishatu Dahiru Ahamed of Adamawa State, Barr. Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim of Bauchi State, and Real Admiral S. Kashim Ibrahim (Rtd) of Borno State.
The rejection was announced on September 27, 2026, by the candidates, who argued that politics is local and that the national leadership should consider the views of those directly involved in the party's activities. They expressed concern that the appointment could affect the party's electoral prospects in the North-East region. According to them, consultation with the governorship candidates would have enabled the national leadership to better understand the political realities and concerns in the six states.
The candidates, who have been directly involved in building the party's structures and mobilizing support across their respective states, described their decision as "collective, firm and final." They urged the national leadership to review the appointment and engage the affected governorship candidates in the interest of party unity and cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections. The statement was addressed to Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, the national leadership of the party.
The NDC national leadership, under Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, had appointed Engr. Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, as the party's leader in the North-East region. However, the governorship candidates disagreed with the decision, citing the need for consultation with them before such an appointment. They maintained that the decision would not add electoral value to the party in the region.
The candidates also expressed their commitment to the party and acknowledged the efforts of the NDC national leadership in providing a platform for political participation ahead of the 2027 elections. However, they insisted that their objection to Lawal's appointment remained unchanged. The signatories to the statement include Dr. Babayo Ardo of Gombe State, Prof. Mohammed Sani of Taraba State, and Ibrahim M. Shitu of Yobe State.
The rejection of Engr. Babachir Lawal as the NDC leader in the North-East region has raised concerns about the party's unity and cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections. The governorship candidates have appealed to the national leadership to engage them in the interest of party unity and to strengthen the NDC in the region. The development may affect the party's electoral prospects in the North-East region.
The NDC is one of the major political parties in Nigeria, and the North-East region is a significant part of the country's electoral landscape. The rejection of Engr. Babachir Lawal as the party leader in the region may have implications for the party's performance in the 2027 elections. The national leadership of the party will need to address the concerns of the governorship candidates to ensure party unity and cohesion.
Key points
- The six governorship candidates of the NDC in the North-East region have rejected the appointment of Engr. Babachir Lawal as the party's leader, citing lack of consultation.
- The candidates have urged the national leadership to review the appointment and engage them in the interest of party unity and cohesion.
- The rejection may affect the party's electoral prospects in the North-East region ahead of the 2027 elections.
