The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has handed its 2027 presidential ticket holders, Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, considerable room to shape the leadership of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council as preparations for the general election gather pace.
The party said consultations on the composition and inauguration of the council are already at an advanced stage, with Obi and Kwankwaso expected to nominate several of the most influential officials who will drive the presidential campaign.
The development comes days after the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, a support group backing the joint ticket, unveiled a separate 59-member campaign structure spanning the six geopolitical zones, the Federal Capital Territory and the 36 states. The NDC has clarified that the movement’s structure does not replace the party’s official Presidential Campaign Council.
In a statement issued on Monday, NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the party had been working with the two candidates and other stakeholders to produce a campaign structure capable of coordinating the party’s activities nationwide.
According to him, Obi and Kwankwaso have held several consultations with NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, alongside other senior members of the party.
A detailed organogram for the proposed council was reportedly drawn up in August and forwarded to the presidential and vice-presidential candidates for consideration. The party also received nominations from stakeholders across the country.
Under the arrangement announced by the NDC, Obi and Kwankwaso will nominate several principal officers of the campaign council.
Those positions include the Director-General, Deputy Director-General (North), campaign spokesman and deputy spokesman, Head of New Media, Finance Director and Deputy Finance Director, among others.
The party said the Finance Director and deputy would work alongside the National Treasurer to oversee campaign finances.
It explained that the structure was designed partly to strengthen financial accountability and ensure compliance with the reporting requirements applicable to political campaigns under Nigeria’s electoral laws.
Campaign funds raised for the presidential contest, the party said, would be paid into a dedicated campaign account operated by officials nominated by the presidential candidate, his running mate and the National Treasurer.
The NDC said it had already developed a proposed campaign timetable but was still working through funding and fundraising arrangements, which would involve the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
The inauguration of the campaign council had initially been scheduled for the first week of September but was postponed following Obi’s travel schedule.
The party said the inauguration would take place after the candidates submit their remaining input and the final structure is completed.
It also sought to play down suggestions of internal disagreements over the campaign machinery.
“There are no battles to fight within the NDC. The common opponent to defeat is the ruling APC,” the statement said.
The party urged its candidates and members to concentrate on the 2027 contest and work towards a coordinated campaign rather than pursue internal disputes.
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Beyond the presidential campaign council, the NDC said it was already putting machinery in place for election-day operations across the country.
The party has directed its state and local government chairmen to meet with candidates and other stakeholders within two weeks to compile lists of party agents for the 2027 elections.
Two separate lists are expected to be produced — one covering National Assembly elections and another covering 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.
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A committee overseeing the process will be chaired by NDC Deputy National Chairman (South), Comrade Babatunde Alli, with Vin Martin Ilo as secretary.
Other members include Dr Yunusa Tanko, associated with the Obidient Movement; Nafiu Dankura, representing the Kwankwasiyya Movement; and the party’s six zonal National Vice Chairmen.
The clarification comes amid growing activity among organisations supporting the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
The 59-member structure recently unveiled by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement includes state and zonal coordinators as well as directors responsible for areas such as mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security and legal affairs.
However, the NDC has maintained that the support group’s structure should not be confused with the party’s own Presidential Campaign Council, which remains under the authority of the NDC leadership.
With the party now giving Obi and Kwankwaso a role in selecting key campaign officials, attention is expected to shift to the final composition of the council and how the various campaign and support structures will operate alongside one another as the 2027 election season progresses.