Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal has formally joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), declaring his support for the party's 2027 presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso. He made the announcement in Abuja on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, three months after quitting the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Lawal's Reason for Joining NDC
Speaking at the event, Lawal argued that any Nigerian who genuinely cared about the country's future had little choice but to back the NDC. He cited ongoing insecurity, hunger, ignorance, and disease as pressing national challenges.
"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 have Peter and Kwankwaso as their candidates," Lawal said.
He added: "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. So, 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 Lawal as Key Mobiliser
NDC National Leader Senator Seriake Dickson received Lawal warmly, describing him as a seasoned political mobiliser whose experience would be critical to the party's campaign efforts in the North East.
"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.
Dickson further noted that Lawal had watched political parties make promises they failed to keep, saying such parties had taken Nigeria "from top to bottom." He confirmed that Lawal would oversee NDC activities and campaign coordination across the North East.
Why Lawal Left ADC
Lawal's move to the NDC comes roughly three months after he quit the ADC. In his resignation statement, shared on his official Facebook page, Lawal accused the ADC of manipulating its presidential primary to benefit former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
He alleged that declared results were altered in Atiku's favour and that even in areas where voting took place, legitimate winners were replaced. Lawal said he could not continue to belong to a party whose primary process he considered fundamentally flawed.
Peter Obi was ratified as the NDC's presidential candidate on May 29, 2026, with Kwankwaso named as his running mate for the 2027 general elections. Lawal's formal reception into the party and his new leadership role signal a significant boost to the NDC's organisational capacity in the North East ahead of the polls.
