NDC Tension Brews as Six North-East Governorship Candidates Reject Babachir Lawal

Fresh tension is brewing within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2027 general elections as six governorship candidates from the North-East have rejected the appointment of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, as the party’s leader in the region.

The candidates, in a joint statement, said they would not recognise Lawal in the position, describing their decision as “collective, firm and final.”

They accused the party’s national leadership of making the appointment without consulting them or other stakeholders involved in building the party’s structures across the six North-East states.

The candidates argued that local political realities should be considered before major appointments are made, and urged the NDC leadership to review Lawal’s appointment and engage with them.

The statement was signed by the governorship candidates from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states.

The development adds another layer to the political manoeuvring within the NDC as parties prepare for the 2027 elections, with the national leadership yet to publicly respond to the candidates’ demand.