Just-In: Babachir Lawal Joins NDC, Backs Obi–Kwankwaso Ticket Ahead of 2027

By Chris Ogbonnaya Uduma

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has reportedly joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and declared his support for the party’s presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Lawal is said to have decided following a meeting with the NDC National Leader and former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, at the senator’s residence in Abuja.

The development comes months after Lawal resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on June 1, 2026, following the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.

In announcing his resignation, Lawal alleged irregularities in the ADC presidential primary and said he would consult with like-minded political associates on his next political direction.

Lawal had previously expressed support for a possible Obi–Kwankwaso presidential ticket. In July, he described the pairing as a potentially strong combination for the 2027 election during a televised interview monitored by Newsleverage.

Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso had earlier left the ADC and joined the NDC, where they subsequently emerged as the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates, respectively.

Recall that Lawal also supported Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, when Obi contested under the platform of the Labour Party.