2027: NDC gives Peter Obi, Kwankwaso power to pick campaign officials

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has given its presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the power to nominate choice leaders of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

The NDC spokesperson, Osa Director, disclosed this in a statement posted on the party’s Facebook page on Tuesday amid row with members of the OK Movement.

The OK (short for Obi-Kwankwaso) Movement is one of the independent groups mobilising support for Messrs Obi and Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 election.

Power to nominate campaign council

Mr Director said in the statement that Messrs Obi and Kwankwaso held “several productive meetings” with the National Leader of NDC, Seriake Dickson, and the entire leadership of the party over the setting up of the party’s PCC.

He said the NDC has now decided to allow the presidential candidate and his running mate to nominate the PCC’s director-general, the deputy director-general (North), the spokesperson, deputy spokesperson and the head of new media.

The NDC spokesperson said the party also allowed the duo to nominate the PCC’s finance director, deputy finance director and “several others in consultation with the party.”

“The party leadership has given a free hand to the presidential candidate and his running mate to make nominations,” he said.

He explained that the party’s decision to allow them make the nominations was to “ensure inclusiveness, cohesion, and victory.”

“The inauguration of the PCC was earlier scheduled for the first week of September but had to be postponed due to the travel schedule of the presidential candidate,” he stated, without giving a new date for the inauguration.

Other resolutions of the NDC

Mr Director said the NDC also resolved that the finance director and his deputy, in collaboration with the party’s national treasurer, shall manage all campaign funds in the spirit of transparency and accountability.

He said the resolution was because the party has a responsibility of rendering accounts to the Independent National Electoral Commission in line with the Electoral Act 2026.

The spokesperson added that the NDC’s organogram of the campaign structure had been developed since August and made available to both Messrs Obi and Kwankwaso for their input even as the party also got nominations from other stakeholders across the country.

“The party wishes to assure the public that as soon as we receive the inputs of our presidential candidate and his vice, the NDC shall proceed to announce and inaugurate the same,” he said of the party’s organogram.

He emphasised that the NDC had proposed to release a campaign timetable since August, but the party delayed it to conclude arrangements for the funding and fundraising for the campaign, to be spearheaded by the candidates.

“The money raised shall be paid into the presidential campaign account to be managed by officers nominated by the presidential candidate and his running mate, as well as the party national treasurer,” he said.

Warning to support groups

Mr Director said the NDC has appealed to its candidates at all levels to restrain their supporters and support groups to focus on the need to win elections.

“There are no battles to fight within the NDC. The common opponent to defeat is the ruling APC. We are committed as a party.

“The party has done its own and is ready to do more. The candidates and their supporters are encouraged to do the same,” he said.

“Our candidates should keep their eyes on the ball and focus on winning.”

Assembling party agents

Mr Director further said that the NDC has directed all chairmen of the party at state and local government area levels to immediately convene meetings with candidates and relevant stakeholders in their respective states to collate and harmonise the list of party agents to be deployed for the forthcoming general elections.

The spokesperson stressed that the chairmen were directed to generate a “comprehensive list of two sets of party agents, specifically for national assembly elections and another set for governorship and state assembly elections.

“These party agents shall be scrutinised and ratified by the party’s leadership, including the presidential candidate and his running mate before training commences,” he said.

Background

The latest development came barely 72 hours after a face-off between the NDC leadership and members of the OK Movement over setting up the PCC for the 2027 election.

READ ALSO: UPDATED: NDC dissociates itself from pro-Obi campaign council, warns candidates

PREMIUM TIMES reported that last Thursday, the OK Movement constituted a 59-member PCC to mobilise support for Messrs Obi and Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 election.

The support group claimed the PCC would operate independent of the PCC to be inaugurated by the NDC.

But the NDC, on Saturday, disowned the support group, maintaining that the party would soon unveil its PCC for the 2027 election.

It warned the support group that their action could destabilise the party.

However, the support group, in response, rejected the NDC’s position, insisting that it does not require the personal validation or approval of any individual within the party before exercising its legitimate organisational functions in accordance with established processes.