- Candidate to receive Certificates of Return
ABUJA — The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has explained that consultations with its presidential and vice-presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, respectively, are central to the constitution of its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), insisting that the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections are progressing according to plan and would concretize in another fortnight.
This explanation was given by the party’s National Chairman, Sen. Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, at a press conference, Saturday, at the NDC National Secretariat in Abuja. Sen. Cleopas said the PCC organogram and campaign timetable had been ready since the end of August, but that the inauguration of the council was awaiting the conclusion of the presidential candidate’s vetting and shortlisting of nominees for key campaign positions.
Against this background, he said, the 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 candidates contesting various elective positions across the country.
The NDC National Chairman who was addressing journalists on the outcome of deliberations by the National Working Committee (NWC) explained that the October 20th activities would follow a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) scheduled for the same date, during which key decisions concerning the party’s preparations for the elections are expected to be considered and ratified.
Cleopas’ clarification comes amid questions about the seeming delay in the inauguration of the party’s presidential campaign structure and speculation about possible disagreements within the party. He maintained that the delay was neither an indication of inactivity nor evidence of internal division, but part of a deliberate process to ensure that the campaign leadership is properly constituted, and that the best men and women for the job are chosen.
According to the NDC Chairman, the ongoing consultations are intended to ensure that appointments reflect national spread, competence, capacity, and the ability of nominees to contribute meaningfully to the campaign.
Obi, Kwankwaso to nominate key campaign officers
The NDC disclosed that Obi and Kwankwaso are expected to make recommendations for several strategic positions in the Presidential Campaign Council, including Director-General, Deputy Director-General, campaign spokesperson, Director of Social Media and Financial Controller.
The presidential and vice-presidential candidates are also expected to nominate two additional officers who, alongside the party’s National Treasurer, will be responsible for managing the campaign council’s separate and dedicated bank account
Sen. Cleopas said the arrangement reflected the importance of involving the candidates in decisions that would directly affect the organisation, financing, and direction of their campaign.
He maintained that the party leadership, the presidential candidate, his running mate, and the National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, were united on the process and the broader preparations for the 2027 elections.
The chairman said the NDC would announce the campaign council once the national leadership received the candidates’ nominations and recommendations.
He explained that establishing the campaign council without the active participation of the presidential candidate and his running mate would be inappropriate, given that they would be at the centre of the presidential contest.
According to him, the candidates must also provide direction on campaign funding arrangements to ensure that the council operates within an agreed framework.
The party said its approach was intended to prevent avoidable disagreements over appointments and responsibilities while ensuring that the eventual structure could effectively coordinate the presidential campaign nationwide.
Party insists there is no division within its ranks
Addressing reports suggesting that the NDC had become unusually quiet or was struggling to organise itself for the elections, Cleopas said the leadership had received inquiries from party members, supporters and other Nigerians seeking clarification about its activities.
He said the press conference was partly intended to address those concerns and counter narratives suggesting that the party was divided or unprepared.
The chairman maintained that the NWC, NEC, National Leader, and party structures at the state, local government, and ward levels remained committed to the party’s candidates.
He also rejected suggestions that Dickson was working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the NDC’s presidential ticket, arguing that the decision to provide the party’s platform to Obi and Kwankwaso demonstrated the leadership’s commitment to its political objectives.
According to him, working for Tinubu and the APC was never a consideration for the NDC National Leader. “Why would Dickson go the tortuous and more expensive route of setting up and registering a party when it would have been easier and more financially beneficial to simply join the APC?”, Sen. Cleopas asked.
Cleopas urged journalists to exercise caution in reporting allegations and political speculation, warning that misinformation could generate unnecessary distrust and mislead the electorate.
He also commended the judiciary for providing the platform through which the NDC was registered and acknowledged the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while calling for continued support for the electoral umpire.
NDC to engage, train party agents
Beyond the presidential campaign structure, the party chairman disclosed that arrangements for recruiting, training, and deploying election agents were also being developed as part of its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
According to him, candidates contesting state and national elections are expected to nominate agents who will represent them during the electoral process.
Each candidate will submit two separate lists: one covering agents for state elections and another for national elections, including the presidential, senatorial, and House of Representatives contests.
The presidential candidate and his running mate are also expected to make inputs where necessary into the arrangements for national election agents.
The party said it would subsequently organise intensive and extensive training for the nominated agents to prepare them for their responsibilities on election day.
The training is expected to familiarise agents with their duties in monitoring voting, observing electoral procedures, reporting irregularities, and protecting the interests of the candidates they represent.
Cleopas said the party was drawing lessons from challenges encountered by Peter Obi and Labour Party during the 2023 presidential election and was determined to strengthen its organisational capacity ahead of the 2027 polls, so that the mistakes of 2023 are not repeated in 2027.
He maintained that the presidential campaign could not be separated from the activities of candidates contesting governorship, legislative, and other elective positions, stressing the need for coordination across the party’s structures.
The proposed arrangements, according to the chairman, are intended to improve coordination between candidates and the national leadership while ensuring that election-day responsibilities are clearly defined.
NDC will continue to work with our support groups
Cleopas said NDC fully appreciates the very critical role of support groups in achieving victory, saying the party is very lucky and happy to have the likes of Obidients, Kwankwasiyya, OK movement and several other such groups in its fold.
He said such groups play a vital role in mobilising support, votes, and defending the votes of the party and its candidates. He, however, frowned at a situation whereby some of the groups began to assume the functions reserved for the party, such as setting up a presidential campaign committee whilst the party was still consulting and compiling the list
According to him, it was on that count that the party had to call the said factional leader of the group to order, lamenting that the party’s position on the matter, though very unambiguous, was deliberately misinterpreted by the concerned officer and a handful of his supporters who clearly had an ulterior motive outside of mobilising support for our presidential candidate and his Running Mate.
He said there was no way the NDC could constitute a presidential campaign committee without involving genuine members of these support groups whose expertise and reach would be very critical in mobilising votes and taking the party down to the grassroot.
Some members of the party had recently raised concerns over what they described as the infiltration of some NDC support groups by individuals allegedly working for the ruling party and other interests outside the organisations.
According to the concerned party members, the alleged infiltration has contributed to the emergence of groups claiming to support the presidential ticket of Obi and Kwankwaso but which, clearly, are being used to undermine its candidates.
There were also allegations that some of the groups were spreading propaganda and false information aimed at creating confusion and distrust between the national leadership of NDC, its candidates, and genuine members support groups and organisations.
The party chairman, however, insisted that there was no misunderstanding between the party, its candidates, and legitimate support groups.
Cleopas said much of the controversy circulating on social media in recent times was attributable, in the party’s assessment, to sponsored actors operating within the ranks of support groups.
He maintained that the NDC welcomed genuine supporters and organisations working towards its electoral objectives but would remain vigilant against activities intended to disrupt its preparations.
The chairman said the party was committed to coordinating its support groups towards a common purpose and urged Nigerians not to allow misinformation to distract them from the democratic process.
Town hall meetings and nationwide mobilisation continue
The NDC chairman also dismissed claims that the party had not begun engaging voters, disclosing that consultations and town hall meetings have already taken place in different parts of the country and are still ongoing.
“Our town hall began in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. I was there with our presidential candidate, the Running Mate, the Rivers State governorship candidate of the Party, Dumont Lulu Briggs, among several others. We have also had town hall meetings in Sokoto and Kaduna. And by next week, we’ll be in Enugu”.
He said the meetings formed part of the party’s efforts to communicate its message, interact with communities, and build relationships ahead of the formal inauguration of the presidential campaign structure.
The NDC National Chairman described the duo of Obi and Kwankwaso as candidates whose combination was intended to appeal to Nigerians across regional, religious, and ethnic lines.
He also highlighted the importance of young Nigerians to the party’s electoral strategy, saying the NDC was seeking to combine youth participation with the experience of established political leaders in building an enduring political institution.
He maintained that the party is fielding candidates for all categories of elective positions, including the presidency, governorships, Senate, House of Representatives, and state houses of assembly.
He said the NDC was preparing for the elections through a combination of campaign planning, candidate coordination, grassroots engagement, and election-day organisation.
‘Allow votes to count or be counted’
On electoral integrity, Sen. Cleopas warned against attempts to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the will of Nigerians must be reflected in the final results.
“Allow votes to count or be counted,” he declared, calling on electoral officials, security agencies, and political actors to ensure that the elections were conducted in accordance with the law.
He said the NDC was committed to playing by the rules but would not remain indifferent if attempts were made to frustrate the electoral choices of Nigerians.
The chairman also urged security and intelligence agencies to remain non-partisan, arguing that public confidence in the elections would depend substantially on the neutrality of institutions responsible for maintaining law and order.
He expressed confidence in the party’s preparations, saying the NDC was determined to compete across the country and take lawful steps to protect its candidates and votes.
“We are convinced that if it is the votes to win the 2027 general elections, we have them,” he said.
With the NEC meeting, campaign council inauguration, presentation of Certificates of Return and candidates’ dinner scheduled for October 20, the NDC is positioning the date as a major milestone in its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The party said the forthcoming activities would provide an opportunity to formalise its campaign leadership, strengthen coordination among candidates, and advance preparations for the presidential and other electoral contests.
The Chairman reaffirmed the party’s commitment to national renewal and the development of an enduring political institution, declaring: “Nigeria must work again.”
