A fresh power struggle has erupted in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) North-East, with former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and Adamawa governorship aspirant Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, popularly known as Binani, trading accusations over the former SGF’s appointment as the party’s zonal leader.
The clash followed a protest by six NDC governorship candidates against Lawal’s appointment, with Lawal firing back by accusing unnamed party members of working for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to undermine the NDC’s Peter Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket.
Lawal, in a strongly worded statement, alleged that the protest was organised by a “female pretender” to the Adamawa governorship ticket, an apparent reference to Binani.
He also claimed that two of the politicians listed as signatories to the protest—Professor Mohammed Sani Yahaya of Taraba and Dr Babayo Ardo of Gombe—had contacted him to dissociate themselves from the document, allegedly saying their names and signatures were used without their knowledge or authorisation.
The claims could not independently be verified from Lawal’s statement.
The former SGF said his appointment was made by the NDC national leadership, which recruited him into the party and designated him as its leader in the North-East and North-Central zones.
He said he accepted the appointment in good faith, citing his respect for NDC leaders Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Lawal, who recently joined the NDC after leaving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accused some elements within the party of working for Atiku and described them as “subversives” of the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
He alleged that his entry into the NDC had exposed attempts to undermine the party’s campaign in the North-East.
The former SGF also took aim at Binani, questioning her political activities in Adamawa and alleging that she had sought to control the party’s structures in the state.
He further alleged that she nominated candidates for elective positions and financed their nomination and expression-of-interest forms, as well as established a parallel executive structure in the state.
The allegations against Binani were contained in Lawal’s statement and had not been independently established.
The six NDC governorship candidates had earlier rejected Lawal’s appointment, insisting that the decision was made without adequate consultation with key stakeholders in the region.
They urged the national leadership to review the appointment, while maintaining their opposition to Lawal’s emergence as zonal leader.
The dispute has now opened a fresh fault line in the NDC as the party prepares for the 2027 elections, with competing camps trading accusations over control of its structures and the direction of its presidential campaign in the North-East.