As candidates intensify efforts to outshine their opponents, the campaign organisation of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Senator Aishatu Ahmed Binani, has rejected recent accusations by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir Lawal, describing them as unsubstantiated and politically divisive.
The response followed a recent statement by Lawal after his emergence as a leader of the NDC’s political activities in the North-East.
The former SGF had accused Binani and other NDC governorship candidates in the northern zone of working against the party’s presidential ticket.
In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Public Affairs of the Binani campaign organisation, Hon. Mathias Yohanna, the campaign said it would not be intimidated by what it described as “indecent language” or personal attacks.
The campaign organisation said Binani participated in a democratically convened meeting of NDC governorship candidates where decisions concerning the North-East were taken, adding that it remained committed to the decision to recognise Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as the party’s leader in the North.
“While we respect elders who stand for the truth, our respect should not be taken for granted,” the statement said.
It faulted Lawal for allegedly referring to some NDC governorship candidates as “so-called gubernatorial” candidates and “nincompoops”.
The campaign further accused the former SGF of engaging in divisive politics rather than building unity within the party, urging him to adopt what it called the dignity expected of political leaders seeking the mandate of citizens.
The statement also challenged Lawal’s political influence, questioning whether his political weight alone could determine the outcome of the North-East political contest.
The campaign organisation urged the national leadership of the NDC to intervene in the dispute and call Lawal to order, stressing that the party’s constitution and principles should guide political debates and interactions among members.
It appealed for the promotion of “conscience, integrity and respect for one another” as the basis for building a united and peaceful party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The latest exchange is part of a growing disagreement within the NDC’s North-East structure. Six governorship candidates recently rejected Lawal’s appointment as the party’s regional leader, citing inadequate consultation, while Lawal subsequently accused some party members of attempting to undermine the Peter Obi–Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket.
