Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress and declared his support for the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Lawal, who was unveiled as a member of the opposition party in Abuja on Tuesday, said he was backing the joint candidacy of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
His move to the NDC came about three months after he resigned from the African Democratic Congress following his allegation that the party’s presidential primary was manipulated to favour former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Explaining his decision to join the NDC, the former SGF said Nigerians troubled by insecurity, hunger and other challenges facing the country should support a political platform capable of addressing the problems.
“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 further urged Nigerians to support the NDC’s presidential ticket, expressing optimism that the party would take over the Federal Government after the 2027 election.
“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 stated.
Lawal added that he looked forward to May 29, 2027, when he said supporters of the party would celebrate what he described as an expected electoral victory.
“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 generations yet unborn,” he said.
Welcoming Lawal into the NDC, the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, said the former SGF brought considerable political experience and mobilisation capacity to the opposition party.
Dickson described Lawal as more than a former government official, portraying him as a political activist who had participated in Nigeria’s political process for many years.
“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.
According to the NDC leader, Lawal’s experience across different political platforms would be useful to the party as it prepares for the 2027 elections.
Dickson said Lawal had been assigned a leadership role in the party’s campaign activities across the North-East, where he would be expected to provide direction and help resolve issues affecting the party’s candidates and campaigns.
“We are pleased to have you play a leadership role that only you can play at those levels. You will oversee the activities of the NDC and our campaigns in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria,” he said.
He added, “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.”
Lawal’s latest political move follows his controversial exit from the ADC in June 2026.
In his resignation statement published on his official Facebook page at the time, the former SGF alleged that the party’s presidential primary was fundamentally flawed.
He claimed that results from the primary were altered to favour Atiku and his supporters, alleging further that in some areas where voting had taken place, declared winners were subsequently replaced.
Lawal subsequently left the ADC and has now aligned with the NDC, which is fielding the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket for the 2027 presidential election.
