NDC Fixes October 20 to Inaugurate Presidential Campaign Council

The Nigeria Democratic Congress has fixed October 20 for the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, announced this on Saturday at a press briefing in Abuja, stating that the inauguration would take place during a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee, where key decisions on its preparations for the elections would also be ratified.

Cleopas explained that the party had already developed the organogram for the campaign council and was consulting its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on key appointments. He said the delay in inaugurating the council was deliberate, stressing that the party wanted to ensure the structure was properly constituted before the commencement of full-scale campaigns. “It is better to get it right. It is a sensitive election that we are going into. And we must check characters,” he said.

The chairman disclosed that the party would also use the October 20 meeting to present Certificates of Return to its candidates and hold a dinner to strengthen cooperation ahead of the polls. He listed positions being considered for the campaign council to include Director-General, Deputy Director-General, Director of Finance, Director of Mobilisation and spokesperson.

Cleopas dismissed suggestions that the party had been inactive since unveiling Obi and Kwankwaso as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates. He said party leaders had continued consultations and town hall meetings, citing recent engagements in Sokoto and Kaduna, with a planned visit to Enugu on October 15. “So it is not to mean that we have not been working,” he said.

On the party’s presidential ticket, Cleopas said the leadership, including National Leader Seriake Dickson and members of the National Working Committee and NEC, remained committed to Obi and Kwankwaso. He described the ticket as representative of Nigeria’s religious, ethnic and generational diversity. He also rejected allegations that Dickson was working with the ruling All Progressives Congress against Obi’s presidential ambition, saying Dickson had deliberately chosen not to contest the presidency and had instead provided the NDC platform for Obi and Kwankwaso to pursue their political ambitions.

The NDC chairman vowed that the party would challenge any alleged attempts to manipulate the electoral process before, during and after the 2027 elections. He also cautioned support groups, including the Obidient Movement, against interfering in party administration, stressing that the responsibility rests with constitutionally recognised party structures. He said the party welcomed support groups but urged them to operate within their assigned roles to avoid unnecessary friction.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier released the final list of presidential candidates for the 2027 election, clearing 18 political parties to participate in the January 16 poll. Peter Obi of the NDC is listed alongside President Bola Tinubu of the APC and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the ADC.

– TOPTORI