Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, has rejected his inclusion in the policy team of the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Moghalu stated that he was neither consulted nor asked to consent to the use of his name before Atiku's campaign announced him as a member of the presidential candidate's Policy Team.
Moghalu made this known in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday, shortly after Atiku's campaign unveiled its Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election. The announcement listed Moghalu among members of the Policy Team, which is chaired by economist and banker Mohammed Hayatudeen, with Professor Mohammed Sagagi serving as deputy chairman.
Moghalu stressed that he had not agreed to participate in Atiku's presidential campaign, saying he was surprised to see his name included in the campaign structure. He clarified that his non-involvement extended beyond formal membership, saying he was not serving as an unofficial or advisory member of the team.
The former CBN deputy governor further stated that he had quit partisan politics in Nigeria since 2022 and had maintained a non-partisan position in the country's political affairs. He emphasized that he was not affiliated with any political party, adding that his commitment to Nigeria could be expressed through other avenues without being tied to a political party or electoral campaign.
Moghalu currently serves as president of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation, IGET Africa, a non-partisan public policy think tank and executive education academy. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of Sogato Strategies, a geopolitical risk and regulatory strategy advisory firm.
Atiku's campaign unveiled its campaign structure for the 2027 presidential election, naming Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council, while former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was appointed deputy chairman. The campaign also announced the establishment of a Policy Team tasked with developing proposals around some of the major issues highlighted by the campaign.
Moghalu's decision to remain outside partisan politics has allowed him to focus on policy and other areas of national development. His statement therefore places his position clearly outside the campaign structure announced by Atiku, despite his name initially appearing among members of the Policy Team.
Key points
- Moghalu was not consulted before Atiku's campaign announced him as a member of the Policy Team.
- Moghalu has quit partisan politics in Nigeria since 2022.
- Moghalu currently serves as president of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation, IGET Africa.
