Fresh crisis hits NDC as N’East gov’ship candidates reject Babachir’s appointment

In a developing conflict within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), six candidates for governorship in the North-East have refused to recognize Engr. Babachir Lawal as the party's regional leader. Lawal, who recently joined the party, was appointed to lead NDC activities in the region just days ago. The six candidates—each representing one of the North-East states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe—issued a joint statement on Sunday, announcing their collective refusal to accept Lawal's leadership.

They emphasized that their decision was "collective, firm, and final," and attributed it to a lack of stakeholder consultation in the decision-making process.

The candidates expressed strong reservations about Lawal's ability to contribute positively to the NDC's electoral prospects, warning that forcing a leader without prior dialogue could harm the party's chances across the six states. They emphasized the importance of local politics and criticized the national leadership for not engaging key figures who have been actively involved in grassroots mobilization.

Despite acknowledging the broader efforts to position the NDC as a strong contender for the 2027 general elections, the group urged the national leadership and Senator Seriake Dickson, the party's national leader, to reconsider the appointment to maintain internal cohesion and regional unity.

As of Sunday evening, the NDC's national leadership had not yet issued a response to this internal crisis.