The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that consultations for the constitution and inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council are at an advanced stage, ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have been given considerable latitude to nominate principal officers who will coordinate the presidential campaign. This development is part of the party's preparations for the elections, scheduled for January 16, 2027.
According to the NDC, a comprehensive organogram for the presidential campaign was prepared in August and forwarded to Obi and Kwankwaso for their input. Nominations have also been received from stakeholders across the country. The party leadership has given a free hand to the presidential candidate and his running mate to make nominations. Obi and Kwankwaso will nominate several principal officers, including the Director-General, Deputy Director-General for the North, campaign spokesman and deputy spokesman, Head of New Media, Finance Director and Deputy Finance Director.
The proposed finance officials are expected to work with the NDC National Treasurer in managing funds raised for the presidential campaign. Campaign funds will be paid into a dedicated presidential campaign account overseen by officials nominated by the presidential candidate and his running mate, alongside the party's National Treasurer. This arrangement aims to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with applicable campaign-finance and electoral reporting requirements.
The NDC has proposed a campaign timetable, but some arrangements concerning funding and fundraising are still being finalised. The inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council was initially expected in the first week of September but was postponed due to Obi's travel schedule. A new date will be announced after receiving the remaining input from the candidates. The party has appealed to its candidates and supporters to avoid internal political confrontations and focus on their respective election campaigns.
The NDC has directed its state and local government chairmen to begin identifying party agents for the elections. State and local government officials have been asked to convene meetings involving candidates and other stakeholders within two weeks. The process is expected to produce two categories of proposed party agents, one for the National Assembly elections and the second for governorship and state House of Assembly elections. The proposed agents will undergo scrutiny and ratification by the party leadership before training begins.
The committee overseeing the exercise will be chaired by the NDC's Deputy National Chairman (South), Comrade Babatunde Alli, with Vin Martin Ilo serving as secretary. Other members include Dr Yunusa Tanko, representing the Obidient Movement; Nafiu Dankura, representing the Kwankwasiyya Movement; and the party's six zonal National Vice Chairmen. This mobilisation of party agents represents an important organisational step ahead of voting.
The NDC's forthcoming council is expected to provide the central structure for coordinating the Obi-Kwankwaso presidential campaign, while the party-agent exercise will focus on building representation for the NDC ahead of voting. With the presidential ticket already appearing on INEC's final candidate list, attention within the party is shifting towards completing its campaign leadership, fundraising arrangements and election-day organisation ahead of the January polls.
Key points
- The NDC's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have been given considerable latitude to nominate principal officers for the presidential campaign.
- The party has begun nationwide mobilisation of election agents, with state and local government officials convening meetings to identify party agents for the elections.
- The NDC's Presidential Campaign Council inauguration was postponed due to Obi's travel schedule, with a new date to be announced after receiving remaining input from the candidates.
