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Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), three months after quitting the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
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Lawal, who was received into the NDC in Abuja on Tuesday, declared his support for the party’s presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, described Lawal as an experienced political mobiliser and activist, assigning him a leadership role in coordinating the party’s activities and campaigns across the North-East.
September 22, (THEWILL) – Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), three months after resigning from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over what he described as manipulation of the party’s presidential primary.
Lawal announced his decision in Abuja on Tuesday after meeting with NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, at the senator’s Abuja residence and being formally received into the opposition party.
His defection further strengthens the political realignment around the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Lawal declaring his support for the party’s presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The former SGF said his decision was driven by what he described as the need for Nigerians concerned about the country’s worsening security, economic and social challenges to rally behind a political platform capable of delivering change.
“Anybody in Nigeria who has the interest of our country at heart and sympathy for the suffering that is ongoing in our country, along with insecurity, hunger, ignorance and disease, will have no choice but to join a party that represents the future and has Peter and Kwankwaso as their candidates,” he said.
Lawal added that he considered it necessary for patriotic Nigerians to support the NDC’s objective of electing Obi as President and Kwankwaso as Vice President in 2027.
“Every sensible and patriotic Nigerian ought to understand this. It is now convincing to partner with the NDC to see to the fulfilment of the very noble objective of installing Obi as the president and Kwankwaso as vice president,” he said.
He expressed confidence in the party’s prospects, saying, “By the grace of God, we look forward to May 29, 2027, to celebrate the feat properly for the good of the country, and future of generations yet unborn.”
Dickson Welcomes Former SGF
Receiving Lawal into the NDC, Dickson described the former SGF as an experienced political mobiliser whose influence extended beyond the positions he had occupied in government.
“Babachir Lawal does not need any introduction. He was the former secretary to the government of our country, who did well. But behind the official designations that are known, what is not known is that he’s a great mobiliser. He’s actually some sort of political activist also,” Dickson said.
The former Bayelsa State governor said Lawal had witnessed the evolution of several political parties and had seen platforms that initially promised change but failed to deliver.
According to him, Lawal’s experience would be valuable to the NDC as it prepares for the 2027 elections.
On behalf of the party’s National Working Committee and its presidential candidates, Dickson welcomed Lawal and said he would be expected to play a leadership role in the party’s campaign structure.
“You will oversee the activities of the NDC and our campaigns in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. We count on you, therefore, to help resolve issues, give guidance and direction to the activities of all our candidates and our campaigns in those zones,” he said.
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Why Lawal Left ADC
Lawal’s movement to the NDC followed his resignation from the ADC on June 1, after the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.
In his resignation statement, which he shared on his official Facebook page, the former SGF said he could no longer remain in a party whose presidential primary process he considered fundamentally flawed.
He alleged that the outcome of the primary was manipulated to favour Atiku and his supporters, claiming that results were altered and that declared winners were replaced even in areas where voting had taken place.
The allegations came amid intense political realignments within opposition circles ahead of the 2027 elections.
Lawal had joined the ADC as part of efforts by opposition figures seeking to build a political platform outside the established parties. His eventual departure followed the conclusion of the party’s presidential selection process and the emergence of Atiku as its candidate.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
