The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is facing internal crisis in the North-East following the decision of its six governorship candidates in the region to reject the appointment of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir Lawal, as the party’s regional leader.
Lawal’s appointment to oversee NDC activities and campaigns in the zone came barely days after he joined the party.
However, the opposition from the candidates highlights growing friction between local party stalwarts and the national executive ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a joint statement issued on Sunday and addressed to the NDC national leadership and its National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, the candidates collectively declared that they would not recognise Lawal as their leader.
The six candidates—Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (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)—cited a complete lack of stakeholder consultation as the primary ground for their revolt.
“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,” the statement added, describing the decision as “collective, firm, and final.”
Emphasising that “politics is local,” the candidates criticized the national leadership for failing to engage key figures who have been driving grassroots mobilization across the region. They expressed strong reservations over Lawal’s potential to add value to the party’s electoral prospects, warning that imposing leaders without prior dialogue could jeopardize the NDC’s chances across the six North-East states.
While acknowledging the leadership’s broader efforts to position the NDC as a viable platform for the 2027 elections, the group called on Senator Dickson and the party’s national executive to immediately review the appointment in the interest of internal cohesion and regional unity.
As of Sunday evening, the national leadership of the NDC had not reacted to the development.