Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the NDC presidential and vice presidential candidates.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says it is finalising arrangements for the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Presidential Candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, given a free hand to nominate several key officials of the campaign structure.
The development was contained in a statement issued on Monday, September 21, 2026, by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, as the opposition party intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections.
The NDC said its leadership has been engaged in consultations with relevant stakeholders to produce what it described as a robust, inclusive and cohesive campaign structure capable of coordinating the party’s presidential campaign.
According to the party, Obi and Kwankwaso have held several meetings with the National Leader and other members of the party’s leadership as part of efforts to conclude the structure and prepare for its formal inauguration.
The party said Obi and Kwankwaso would nominate the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Deputy Director-General for the North, Campaign Spokesman, Deputy Spokesperson, Head of New Media, Finance Director, Deputy Finance Director and other officials.
It said the presidential candidate and his running mate would make the nominations in consultation with the party, adding that the party leadership had deliberately given them a free hand in selecting the individuals to occupy the designated positions.
The NDC explained that its decision was aimed at ensuring inclusiveness and cohesion within the campaign while giving the presidential ticket a direct role in determining the leadership of the campaign organisation.
The party further disclosed that a complete organogram for the Presidential Campaign Council had been developed since August and made available to Obi and Kwankwaso for their inputs.
It added that nominations had also been received from other stakeholders across the country and that the final structure would be announced and inaugurated once the inputs of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates had been concluded.
The proposed campaign structure is coming shortly after the NDC publicly distanced itself from a Presidential Campaign Council announced by the OK Movement, a support group associated with the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
The party had said the earlier announcement did not emanate from its official structure and urged the public and media to disregard it.
Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC in May 2026 after leaving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), before the party subsequently ratified Obi as its presidential candidate and Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 election.
Campaign Funding Structure
The NDC also outlined how funds for the presidential campaign would be managed, stressing the need for transparency and accountability.
The party said the Finance Director and Deputy Finance Director of the campaign would work with the National Treasurer to manage campaign funds.
According to the statement, funds raised for the presidential campaign would be paid into the designated presidential campaign account and managed jointly by officers nominated by Obi and Kwankwaso alongside the party’s National Treasurer.
The party said the arrangement was necessary because the NDC would be required to account for campaign finances in accordance with applicable electoral laws and requirements of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party also disclosed that a campaign timetable had been proposed since August, but arrangements for campaign funding and fundraising were still being concluded, with the candidates expected to spearhead the fundraising process.
The inauguration of the PCC, initially scheduled for the first week of September, was postponed because of the presidential candidate’s travel schedule.
NDC Warns Against Internal Battles
While preparing for the campaign, the party also appealed to its candidates at all levels to discourage internal disputes among their supporters and support groups.
The NDC urged its candidates to concentrate on the 2027 elections rather than engage in what it described as unnecessary internal battles.
The party said its candidates and supporters should focus on securing victory for the party, identifying the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the political opponent it intends to challenge at the polls.
“There are no battles to fight within the NDC,” the party said, urging its candidates to “keep their eyes on the ball and focus on winning.”
The party further stressed that its candidates were contesting under the NDC platform and therefore needed to work with the party’s structures rather than operate as independent candidates.
NDC Begins Party Agent Mobilisation
Beyond the presidential campaign structure, the NDC has also commenced preparations for the deployment of party agents for the 2027 general elections.
The party leadership has directed all State Chairmen and Local Government Area Chairmen to immediately convene meetings with candidates and relevant stakeholders to compile and harmonise lists of party agents who will represent the NDC during the elections.
The party said two categories of agents are to be identified.
The first will comprise agents for National Assembly elections, while the second will cover governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
According to the directive, the proposed lists will be subjected to scrutiny and ratification by the party leadership, including the presidential candidate and his running mate, before the commencement of training for the agents.
The NDC has given its state and local government structures two weeks from the date of the directive to complete the exercise and submit their final lists.
The committee responsible for coordinating the appointment of party agents is chaired by the Deputy National Chairman, South, Comrade Babatunde Alli.
Other members listed by the party are the committee’s Secretary, Vin Martin Ilo; Dr. Yunusa Tanko; Nafiu Dankura; and the National Vice Chairmen representing the six geopolitical zones.
The NDC said the various measures were part of its broader preparations to build the organisational structure required for its participation in the forthcoming general elections.
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