Abubakar Kabir 

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), months after leaving the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Lawal also expressed support for the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He announced his decision during a visit to NDC National Leader, Sen. Seriake Dickson and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, in Abuja on Tuesday, saying he wanted to contribute to addressing Nigeria’s security and economic challenges.

Lawal said Nigerians concerned about insecurity, economic hardship, hunger, ignorance and disease should support a political platform committed to changing the country’s circumstances.

He said: “Anybody at all in Nigeria who has the interest of our country at heart and sympathises with the suffering going on in our country will have no choice.”

According to him, such Nigerians should support a party presenting Obi and Kwankwaso as potential candidates, adding that he looked forward to a successful outcome in 2027.

“By the grace of God and with the support of our leaders and Nigerians at large, we look forward to May 29, 2027, when we will celebrate,” he said.

The former SGF said he had decided to come out of political retirement to support Obi and Kwankwaso, whom he described as leaders with records of service.

According to Lawal, both men demonstrated commitment to their people and left what he described as indelible marks during their respective tenures as governors of their states.

Lawal said his political journey through different parties was based on his search for a platform and candidates that could contribute to building a better Nigeria.

He recalled joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support the late President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he described as a man of integrity.

Lawal, however, said he later became dissatisfied with the direction of the APC and subsequently moved to the African Democratic Congress before joining the NDC.

He said his decision to join the NDC followed his conviction that Obi and Kwankwaso offered a platform through which he could continue contributing to Nigeria’s political process.

Earlier, Dickson welcomed Lawal to the party and described him as an experienced politician, organiser and mobiliser with considerable knowledge of Nigeria’s political landscape.

Dickson said Lawal would play leadership roles in coordinating the party’s activities and campaigns across the North-East and North-Central geopolitical zones ahead of the elections.

“We have a lot of roles for him to play as we move forward. But the one that is very clear is that he will lead our activities,” Dickson said.

He said Lawal’s experience would be particularly deployed in the North-East, where he would direct and guide the party’s mobilisation and campaign activities.

Dickson said the NDC expected Lawal to contribute to its efforts to consolidate support across the region and strengthen the party’s structures ahead of 2027.

Responding to reports of a purported Presidential Campaign Council by the Obidient/Kwankwaso movement, Dickson said the NDC was preparing to commence campaigns.

He said the party would work with support groups and other stakeholders to mobilise voters at the grassroots, stressing that such groups had important roles to play.

Dickson, however, said support groups should work with the political party and its campaign structures rather than compete with them during the electioneering process.

He also called for an end to violence and attacks against opposition parties, urging relevant authorities to investigate reported incidents and ensure perpetrators were held accountable.

On preparations for the 2027 elections, Dickson said the NDC had begun collating and training polling-unit agents to monitor the process and protect its votes.

He said the party had constituted a committee responsible for coordinating the recruitment and training of agents across the country ahead of the general elections.

Also speaking, NDC National Secretary, Mr Ikenna Enekweizu, said the party would ensure that its agents were adequately prepared to monitor elections and protect votes.

Enekweizu said trained agents would be expected to understand the electoral process and effectively represent the party’s interests at polling units across the country.

He said the party remained focused on strengthening its grassroots structures and ensuring adequate preparation for the 2027 general elections.(NAN).