TD Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), three months after quitting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over allegations of manipulation of the party’s presidential primary.
Lawal formally joined the NDC in Abuja on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, where he declared his support for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
His defection comes less than four months before the 2027 general elections and marks another movement by a prominent political figure within the opposition camp.
Lawal backs Obi-Kwankwaso
Speaking after he was formally received into the NDC, Lawal urged Nigerians troubled by insecurity, hunger and other socio-economic challenges to support the party.
He said Nigerians who have the interests of the country at heart and sympathise with citizens suffering from insecurity, hunger, ignorance and disease should support the NDC and its presidential ticket.
Lawal said: “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 added that he looked forward to May 29, 2027, when he hoped supporters of the ticket would celebrate what he described as a patriotic objective.
The NDC’s ticket consists of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi as presidential candidate and former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate.
NDC gives Lawal North-East campaign role
Lawal was received into the party by NDC National Leader and former Bayelsa State governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, alongside other party leaders.
Dickson described Lawal as an experienced political mobiliser and activist, saying his experience across different political platforms would be useful to the party.
The NDC leader also announced that Lawal would take up a leadership role overseeing the party’s activities and campaign efforts in the North-East.
According to Dickson, Lawal will help provide guidance and direction to NDC candidates and campaign structures across the zone.
Why Babachir Lawal left ADC
Lawal’s entry into the NDC follows his resignation from the ADC in June 2026.
At the time, the former SGF alleged that the ADC’s presidential primary had been manipulated in favour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Lawal alleged that results were altered to favour Atiku and that, in some areas where elections were conducted, declared winners were subsequently replaced.
He said he could not remain in a party whose primary process he considered fundamentally flawed.
The allegations were disputed by the ADC leadership.
At the time, the party said its primary was a contest in which members were allowed to make their choice, while acknowledging that the process was not perfect and could be improved.
The ADC announced Atiku as its presidential candidate after the primary.
A significant political realignment
Lawal’s latest move represents another shift in the opposition political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former SGF had previously been associated with the ADC coalition but became increasingly critical of the direction of the party after Atiku emerged as its presidential candidate.
His decision to now join the NDC places him directly within the political structure backing the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
The development also gives the NDC an experienced political figure with established networks in northern Nigeria, particularly following Dickson’s announcement that Lawal would oversee the party’s activities and campaign operations in the North-East.
For Lawal, the move completes a rapid political transition: from an ADC chieftain who criticised the conduct of its presidential primary to a member of the NDC actively campaigning for the opposition party’s presidential ticket.
