NDC Moves to Inaugurate Obi-Kwankwaso Presidential Campaign Council

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has commenced arrangements for the inauguration of its official Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party said its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have been authorised to nominate key officials of the campaign council in consultation with the party leadership.

The positions include Director-General, Deputy Director-General (North), campaign spokesperson and deputy spokesperson, Head of New Media, Finance Director and Deputy Finance Director, among others.

The NDC's National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday following consultations involving Obi, Kwankwaso, the party's National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, and other members of the leadership.

According to the party, the arrangement is intended to promote inclusiveness and cohesion within the campaign structure.

The NDC said a comprehensive organogram for the campaign council had been prepared in August and forwarded to Obi and Kwankwaso for their input. It added that nominations had also been received from stakeholders across the country.

The party said the official campaign council would be announced and inaugurated after it receives the outstanding inputs from the presidential candidate and his running mate. The inauguration, initially planned for the first week of September, was postponed because of Obi's travel schedule.

The development comes days after the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement (OK Movement) unveiled a separate 59-member campaign council on September 17.

The NDC subsequently dissociated itself from that structure, saying the movement was not authorised to constitute or announce a campaign council in the name of the party. The party maintained that support groups could contribute to the campaign but could not establish parallel structures for the NDC without approval from its National Working Committee.

On campaign financing, the NDC said funds raised would be paid into a dedicated presidential campaign account and managed by officials nominated by Obi and Kwankwaso in conjunction with the party's National Treasurer.

The Finance Director and Deputy Finance Director are expected to work with the National Treasurer to promote accountability and ensure compliance with the Electoral Act and relevant reporting requirements.

The party also said it had prepared a campaign timetable but that its implementation would depend on the conclusion of funding and fundraising arrangements.

The NDC urged its candidates and supporters to avoid internal disagreements and concentrate on the 2027 elections.

“There are no battles to fight within the NDC. The common opponent to defeat is the ruling APC,” the party said.

The party has also directed its state and Local Government Area chairmen to begin consultations with candidates and stakeholders on the selection of party agents.

Two separate lists are to be prepared for the National Assembly elections and the governorship and State Assembly elections. The lists will subsequently be reviewed and ratified by the party leadership, including Obi and Kwankwaso, before the selected agents undergo training.

The agent-selection committee is chaired by Babatunde Alli, Deputy National Chairman (South), with Vin Martin Ilo as secretary. Other members include Yunusa Tanko, Nafiu Dankura and the party's six zonal National Vice Chairmen.

The NDC said the official Presidential Campaign Council would be announced and inaugurated once the remaining consultations and nominations are concluded.