*Candidates 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).
The party insisted that its preparations for the 2027 general elections are progressing according to plan and will concretise in a fortnight.
This explanation was given by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, at a press conference on Saturday at the NDC National Secretariat in Abuja.
Senator Cleopas stated that 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 the shortlisting of nominees for key campaign positions.
Against this background, he announced that the NDC has fixed 20 October 2026 for the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council, the 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 activities on 20 October will follow a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) scheduled for the same date, during which key decisions concerning the party’s electoral preparations will be considered and ratified.
Senator Cleopas’ clarification comes amid questions regarding the seeming delay in inaugurating the party’s presidential campaign structure and speculation about possible internal disagreements.
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 individuals are chosen for the job.
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 and Kwankwaso to Nominate Key Campaign Officers
The NDC disclosed that Obi and Kwankwaso are expected to make recommendations for several strategic positions within 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.
Senator Cleopas said the arrangement reflects the importance of involving the candidates in decisions that 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, are united on the process and the broader preparations for the 2027 elections.
The chairman stated that the NDC will announce the campaign council once the national leadership receives the candidates’ nominations and recommendations. He explained that establishing the council without the active participation of the presidential candidate and his running mate would be inappropriate, given that they will be at the heart 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 noted that this approach is intended to prevent avoidable disagreements over appointments and responsibilities while ensuring that the eventual structure can effectively coordinate the nationwide presidential campaign.
Party Insists There Is No Division Within Its Ranks
Addressing reports suggesting that the NDC has become unusually quiet or is struggling to organise itself for the elections, Senator Cleopas said the leadership has received inquiries from party members, supporters, and other Nigerians seeking clarification on its activities. He stated that the press conference was partly intended to address those concerns and counter narratives suggesting the party is divided or unprepared.
The chairman maintained that the NWC, NEC, National Leader, and party structures at the state, local government, and ward levels remain fully committed to the party’s candidates. He also rejected suggestions that Senator Dickson is 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 demonstrates the leadership’s commitment to its political objectives.
“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?” Senator Cleopas asked, asserting that working for President Tinubu and the APC was never a consideration for the NDC National Leader.
Senator Cleopas urged journalists to exercise caution when 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, acknowledged the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and called for continued support for the electoral umpire.
NDC to Engage and Train Party Agents
Beyond the presidential campaign structure, the party chairman disclosed that arrangements for recruiting, training, and deploying election agents are also under way as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections. According to him, candidates contesting state and national elections are expected to nominate agents to represent them throughout 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 provide input where necessary regarding arrangements for national election agents.
The party stated that it will subsequently organise intensive and extensive training for the nominated agents to prepare them for election-day responsibilities. The training will familiarise agents with their duties in monitoring voting, observing electoral procedures, reporting irregularities, and protecting the interests of the candidates they represent.
Senator Cleopas noted that the party is drawing lessons from challenges encountered by Peter Obi and the Labour Party during the 2023 presidential election, and is determined to strengthen its organisational capacity ahead of the 2027 polls so that past mistakes are not repeated.
He maintained that the presidential campaign cannot be separated from the activities of candidates contesting governorship, legislative, and other elective positions, stressing the need for seamless coordination across all party structures.
NDC Will Continue to Work with Support Groups
Senator Cleopas stated that the NDC fully appreciates the critical role of support groups in achieving electoral victory, noting that the party is fortunate to have groups like the Obidients, the Kwankwasiyya movement, the OK Movement, and several others within its fold. He noted that such groups play a vital role in mobilising support and votes, as well as defending the mandates of the party and its candidates.
However, he expressed concern over instances where certain groups began assuming functions reserved strictly for the party, such as establishing a presidential campaign committee while the party was still consulting and compiling lists.
He explained that this prompted the party leadership to call a factional leader to order, lamenting that the party’s unambiguous position on the matter was deliberately misinterpreted by the individual and a handful of supporters with ulterior motives.
He emphasised that the NDC cannot constitute a presidential campaign committee without involving genuine members of these support groups, whose expertise and reach are critical to mobilising votes at the grassroots level.
Some party members recently raised concerns regarding the alleged infiltration of some NDC support groups by individuals working for the ruling party and external interests, which they claim has created confusion and distrust between the national leadership, its candidates, and genuine supporters.
However, the party chairman insisted there is no misunderstanding between the party, its candidates, and legitimate support groups, attributing much of the recent social media controversy to sponsored actors operating within their ranks.
Town Hall Meetings and Nationwide Mobilisation Continue
Dismissing claims that the party has yet to engage voters, Senator Cleopas disclosed that consultations and town hall meetings have already taken place across various parts of the country and are 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.
He noted that these meetings form part of the party’s broader efforts to communicate its message, interact with communities, and build relationships ahead of the formal inauguration of the presidential campaign structure.
Describing Obi and Kwankwaso as a formidable combination intended to appeal to Nigerians across regional, religious, and ethnic lines, he also highlighted the importance of youth participation in the party’s electoral strategy.
‘Allow Votes to Count’
On electoral integrity, Senator Cleopas warned against attempts to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the true 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 elections are conducted strictly in accordance with the law. He stated that while the NDC is committed to playing by the rules, it will not remain indifferent if attempts are made to frustrate the democratic choices of Nigerians.
He urged security and intelligence agencies to remain strictly non-partisan, arguing that public confidence in the elections depends substantially on the neutrality of institutions responsible for maintaining law and order.
Expressing absolute confidence in the party’s preparations, Senator Cleopas concluded: “We are convinced that if it is the votes to win the 2027 general elections, we have them.”
With the NEC meeting, campaign council inauguration, presentation of Certificates of Return, and candidates’ dinner scheduled for 20 October, the NDC is positioning the date as a major milestone in its roadmap for the 2027 general elections. The party reaffirmed its commitment to national renewal, declaring: “Nigeria must work again.”
