NDC Fixes October 20 for Presidential Campaign Council Inauguration

ABUJA — The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has fixed October 20, 2026, for the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), presentation of Certificates of Return to its candidates for the 2027 general elections, and a strategic dinner for candidates contesting various elective positions.

The party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, announced this at a press conference at the NDC National Secretariat in Abuja on Saturday, explaining that consultations with its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, were central to finalising the campaign structure.

According to Cleopas, the campaign council’s organisational structure and timetable had been ready since the end of August, but its inauguration was delayed pending the conclusion of consultations and the selection of nominees for key positions.

He said the activities scheduled for October 20 would follow a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, where decisions concerning preparations for the 2027 elections are expected to be considered and ratified.

The chairman dismissed suggestions that the delay reflected internal disagreements or a lack of preparation, maintaining that the party was taking deliberate steps to ensure that the campaign leadership was properly constituted.

He disclosed that Obi and Kwankwaso would recommend nominees for strategic positions, including Director-General, Deputy Director-General, campaign spokesperson, Director of Social Media and Financial Controller.

The candidates are also expected to nominate two additional officers who, alongside the party’s National Treasurer, will oversee the campaign council’s dedicated bank account.

Cleopas said the arrangement was designed to ensure that appointments reflected competence, national spread and the capacity to coordinate the presidential campaign effectively.

He also reaffirmed the unity of the party’s leadership, including National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, while rejecting allegations that Dickson was working with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to undermine the NDC’s presidential ticket.

The chairman urged journalists to exercise caution in reporting political allegations and speculation, warning that misinformation could create unnecessary distrust within the party and mislead the electorate.

On preparations for the elections, Cleopas disclosed that the party was developing plans to recruit, train and deploy election agents to represent its candidates during the 2027 polls.

He explained that candidates contesting state and national elections would submit separate lists of agents, who would subsequently undergo training on electoral procedures, monitoring voting activities, reporting irregularities and protecting candidates’ interests.

According to him, the party is drawing lessons from the challenges encountered by Peter Obi and the Labour Party during the 2023 presidential election to strengthen its organisational capacity ahead of the next polls.

Cleopas also acknowledged the role of support groups, including the Obidients, Kwankwasiyya and OK Movement, in mobilising voters and protecting the party’s votes. However, he stressed the need for coordination between these groups and the party’s official structures.

He maintained that the NDC remained committed to working with genuine support groups while cautioning against activities capable of creating confusion or undermining its electoral preparations.

The chairman further dismissed claims that the party had not begun engaging voters, revealing that town hall meetings had been held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Sokoto and Kaduna, with another scheduled for Enugu.

He said the engagements were intended to communicate the party’s message, strengthen grassroots mobilisation and build relationships with communities ahead of the formal inauguration of the presidential campaign council.

Cleopas added that the party was fielding candidates for all elective positions, including the presidency, governorships, the Senate, the House of Representatives and state houses of assembly.

On electoral integrity, the NDC chairman called on electoral officials, security agencies and political actors to ensure that the outcome of the 2027 general elections reflected the will of Nigerians.

“Allow votes to count or be counted,” he declared, urging security and intelligence agencies to remain neutral throughout the electoral process.

He expressed confidence in the party’s electoral prospects, saying the NDC was prepared to compete nationwide and take lawful steps to protect its candidates and votes.

The October 20 activities, he said, would mark a significant step in formalising the party’s campaign leadership and strengthening coordination among its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Cleopas reaffirmed the party’s commitment to national renewal and building an enduring political institution, declaring: “Nigeria must work again.”

Source: NDC press conference statement.