Six governorship candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the North-East have rejected the appointment of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr Babachir Lawal, as the party’s leader in the region.

The governorship candidates, in a joint statement addressed to the national leadership of the party led by Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, said they would not recognise Lawal in the position, describing their decision as “collective, firm and final”.

The candidates on Sunday said the appointment was made without consultation with them or other key stakeholders who, according to them, had been directly involved in building the party’s structures and mobilising support across their respective states.

“After due consideration, we have unanimously resolved not to recognise Engr Babachir Lawal as the leader of the NDC in the North-East, and we will not recognise him as such,” they stated.

They argued that politics is local and urged the national leadership to take into account the views of those directly involved in the party’s activities and electoral mobilisation across the region.

The candidates further expressed concern that the appointment could affect the party’s electoral prospects in the North-East, saying they were of the view that the decision would not add electoral value to the party in the region.

According to them, consultation with the governorship candidates before the appointment would have enabled the national leadership to better understand the political realities and concerns in the six states.

They therefore appealed to the national leadership to review the appointment and engage the affected governorship candidates in the interest of party unity, cohesion and the strengthening of the NDC ahead of the 2027 elections.

The statement was signed by Aishatu Dahiru Ahamed of Adamawa State, Barr Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim of Bauchi State, Rear Admiral S. Kashim Ibrahim (Rtd) of Borno State, Dr Babayo Ardo of Gombe State, Prof Mohammed Sani of Taraba State and Ibrahim M. Shitu of Yobe State.

The candidates, while acknowledging the efforts of the NDC national leadership in providing a platform for political participation ahead of the 2027 elections, maintained that their objection to Lawal’s appointment remained unchanged.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our position is collective, firm and final: we do not recognise Engr Babachir Lawal as the leader of the NDC in the North-East, and we will not recognise him as such,” they stated. (The Sun)