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— Party Chairman Says Obi, Kwankwaso Consulted on Campaign Appointments, Dismisses Claims Of Internal Division
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has fixed October 20, 2026, for the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council, presentation of Certificates of Return to its candidates for the 2027 general elections and a strategic dinner involving aspirants across the country, as the party intensifies preparations for the polls.
The National Chairman of the party, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuweghe, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja, saying the activities would follow a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which is expected to ratify key decisions relating to its preparations for the 2027 elections.
Senator Zuweghe explained that the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council had taken time because the party was consulting its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on the composition of the campaign leadership and other strategic appointments.
He said the party had already developed an organisational framework for the campaign, but was determined to ensure that key appointments were carefully considered to avoid mistakes that could undermine its electoral prospects.
The NDC chairman spoke against the backdrop of growing questions about the party’s campaign arrangements and allegations in some quarters that the party had become inactive or was experiencing internal disagreements.
He dismissed such suggestions as propaganda, insisting that the party’s leadership remained united behind its candidates and was working to put the necessary structures in place ahead of the elections.
“The party has prepared its organogram for campaign,” Senator Zuweghe said, explaining that the proposed structure had been submitted to the party’s leadership and the presidential candidates for consultation.
He added that the selection of the Director-General, Deputy Director-General, Finance Director, Director of Mobilisation and campaign spokesperson, among other key officers, could not be handled unilaterally by the National Working Committee without the involvement of the candidates who would lead the campaign.
According to him, the party considers the 2027 elections too important to allow haste or internal disagreements to compromise its preparations.
“It is better to get it right,” he said, stressing that the party was determined to establish a credible and effective campaign structure capable of coordinating its activities nationwide.
National Chairman of the party said the October 20 NEC meeting would provide the platform for the formal inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council, the presentation of Certificates of Return to candidates and a dinner designed to strengthen unity and cooperation among party candidates.
The dinner, he explained, would help build synergy among candidates contesting for various offices and ensure that they approached the elections as members of one political organisation rather than as independent political actors.
He warned that candidates seeking elective positions under the NDC platform must work closely with the party’s established structures at the state, local government, ward and constituency levels.
“No candidate is running an independent campaign or an independent election,” he said, adding that candidates must align their campaign arrangements with the party structures operating in their respective constituencies.
The chairman maintained that the NDC had been active despite perceptions that it was yet to commence its political activities, disclosing that its candidates had been holding consultations and town hall meetings as part of efforts to engage Nigerians.
He cited engagements in different parts of the country, including Sokoto and Kaduna, and announced plans for a further outing in Enugu, saying the party would unveil its broader campaign approach in the coming days.
Zuweghe said the party’s preparations extended beyond campaign rallies and political messaging to the development of an effective election-day operation, particularly the recruitment and deployment of polling and collation agents.
He disclosed that committees had been working to identify and organise party agents in advance, drawing lessons from challenges encountered during previous elections.
According to him, the NDC is activating its state structures and coordinating its senatorial, House of Representatives, governorship and State House of Assembly candidates to ensure that its election-day operations are properly organised.
He said candidates contesting federal legislative seats would work with stakeholders in their respective constituencies to identify agents, while governorship and state assembly candidates would coordinate similar arrangements within their areas.
The party, he added, intends to ensure that its candidates and stakeholders work together to protect the votes cast for all NDC candidates, including the presidential ticket.
In the original text of his press briefing, the chairman reaffirmed the party’s commitment to contesting all elective positions in the 2027 general elections, including the presidency, Senate, House of Representatives, governorships and state assemblies.
He said the party would participate fully in the elections and rejected suggestions that it was not serious about the contest, describing such claims as evidence of concern among its political opponents.
“The 2027 general election is an opportunity for freedom for Nigeria and Nigerians,” he declared.
Senator Zuweghe also issued a strong warning against electoral malpractice, insisting that the votes of Nigerians must be allowed to count and that the outcome of the elections should reflect the will of the electorate.
“Allow votes to count or be counted,” he said, calling on security and intelligence agencies to remain visibly non-partisan throughout the electoral process.
He added that the party was committed to operating within the law while preparing to defend its electoral interests at every stage of the process.
The chairman also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to place national interest above personal political ambition, citing former President Goodluck Jonathan as an example of a statesman who prioritised the survival of the country.
On allegations of divisions within the NDC, Zuweghe insisted that the National Leader, National Working Committee, National Executive Committee and party structures across the country remained committed to the presidential ticket and other candidates.
He specifically defended the party’s decision to field Obi and Kwankwaso, describing them as the combination best positioned to appeal to Nigerians across religious, ethnic and regional divides.
He said the party had deliberately chosen to build an institution capable of outliving its present leadership, with young Nigerians expected to play a central role in its future.
According to him, the party’s leadership recognises the demographic importance of young voters and is committed to creating a political platform through which the next generation can participate meaningfully in governance.
Senator Zuweghe further rejected insinuations that the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, had political arrangements with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the leadership remained committed to the party’s stated mission.
He urged the media to resist the circulation of misinformation and report political developments responsibly, arguing that false narratives could undermine public confidence in the democratic process.
The chairman also commended the judiciary for providing the platform for the party’s registration and acknowledged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its work, while calling on Nigerians to support the electoral umpire in discharging its responsibilities.
He reiterated that the NDC was determined to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections and expressed confidence that the party’s candidates could secure victory if the process was credible.
“We are convinced that if it is the votes to win the 2027 general elections, we have them,” he said.
The October 20 NEC meeting is expected to mark a significant step in the party’s transition from preliminary consultations and organisational planning to a more formalised nationwide campaign structure, with the planned inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council and presentation of Certificates of Return serving as key milestones in its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The NDC chairman concluded by reaffirming the party’s commitment to its campaign message of national renewal, declaring: “Nigeria must work again.”
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