NEWS
Former SGF, Babachir Lawal Joins NDC, Signals Support for Obi-Kwankwaso Ticket Ahead of 2027
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has formally defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in another major development reshaping the opposition camp ahead of the 2027 general election.
Lawal’s latest political move is expected to strengthen the NDC as the party prepares for the 2027 presidential contest, particularly amid its emerging alliance around former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The former SGF’s decision followed a meeting with the NDC National Leader and former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, at Dickson’s residence in Abuja.
The meeting, which was initially held behind closed doors, brought Lawal together with Dickson and other senior leaders of the party. While details of the discussions were not immediately made public, Lawal’s subsequent decision to join the NDC has provided a clear indication of the political direction that emerged from the engagement.
Lawal’s move comes months after he resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on June 1, following the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.
The former SGF had openly rejected the outcome of the ADC presidential primary, alleging that the process was manipulated to favour Atiku.
“I am exiting the ADC because its just concluded primaries were at all levels massively rigged in favour of Abubakar Atiku,” Lawal said in his resignation statement.
He further alleged that the results of the primary were altered and that candidates who had allegedly won their respective contests were subsequently replaced.
“Results were just written or rewritten to favour him and his coven. Even where they allowed some semblance of election to hold, the winners were simply replaced with members of his syndicate. In the real sense, it was a disgraceful charade,” he alleged.
Atiku’s camp rejected the allegations and maintained that his emergence was a reflection of the outcome of the ADC presidential primary.
Atiku was declared the winner after securing 1,846,370 votes, ahead of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
Lawal’s disagreement with the ADC leadership also reflected his broader concerns about the possible political consequences of an Atiku presidential candidacy.
He had argued that supporting Atiku could inadvertently strengthen President Bola Tinubu’s prospects of securing another term in office.
“For me, working for Atiku means giving Tinubu an automatic ticket to a second term, which gives me nightmares,” Lawal said.
However, despite his criticism of the Tinubu administration, Lawal subsequently stated that if the 2027 presidential contest eventually narrowed down to a choice between Tinubu and Atiku, he would support the incumbent.
“I have said it before: if the choice must be between Atiku and Tinubu, then despite the shortcomings of Tinubu’s administration, he would still be a far better president compared to what Atiku would bring Nigeria into,” he said in an interview.
He added, “When you are faced with choosing between two devils, you pick the lesser one. Even among devils, there are different categories.”
Lawal’s entry into the NDC therefore represents another significant stage in his political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former SGF had previously supported Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, when Obi contested under the platform of the Labour Party. He had also indicated that he would support an Obi-Kwankwaso presidential ticket should the two politicians return to active political engagement after what he described as a period of political sabbatical.
The NDC is now positioning itself for the 2027 presidential election with Obi as its presidential candidate and Kwankwaso as his running mate.
The party announced on September 22 that consultations were at an advanced stage regarding the constitution and inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council.
Obi and Kwankwaso have reportedly been given considerable latitude to nominate most of the council’s principal officers as the party moves towards establishing its campaign structure.
Lawal’s defection comes at a time when the NDC is also consolidating its legal and organisational position ahead of the election.
The party recently secured a favourable ruling at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which set aside a Federal High Court judgment that had affected its registration and participation in the 2027 electoral process.
Following the appellate court decision, Dickson described the judgment as an affirmation of the NDC’s place within Nigeria’s multiparty democratic system.
With Lawal now joining its ranks, the NDC is gaining another prominent political figure with experience at the highest levels of government, while Lawal’s latest move further underscores the fluid political realignments already taking shape ahead of the 2027 general election.