Six governorship candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress have rejected former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, as the party’s leader in the North-East.
The candidates from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe said they were not consulted before Lawal was given responsibility for coordinating the party’s activities in the region.
Lawal joined the NDC shortly before being assigned the regional role ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a joint statement addressed to the party’s national leadership and National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, the candidates said the decision overlooked stakeholders who had built the party’s structures and mobilised support across the six states.
They called on the national leadership to engage them and other regional stakeholders on the matter.
The candidates also questioned the political value of Lawal’s involvement in the region, expressing concern that it could affect the party’s prospects in the six North-East states.
The statement was signed by Aishatu Dahiru Ahamed of Adamawa, Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim of Bauchi, Rear Admiral S. Kashim Ibrahim (retd.) of Borno, Babayo Ardo of Gombe, Mohammed Sani of Taraba and Ibrahim M. Shitu of Yobe.
While acknowledging the NDC’s national leadership and political platform, the six candidates maintained that their position was collective and final, saying they would not recognise Lawal as the party’s North-East leader.
NDC governorship candidates reject Lawal’s North-East role
