NDC Sets October 20 for Presidential Campaign Council Inauguration

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) will inaugurate its Presidential Campaign Council and present certificates of return to its candidates on October 20, 2026.

The National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, announced the plan on Saturday in Abuja after a two-day meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC).

Cleopas said the party delayed the campaign council’s constitution because it needed to consult its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

He explained that the two candidates must help select campaign officials since they will lead the election effort on the party’s platform.

The NDC is an opposition party that emerged as a major platform for the Obi-Kwankwaso presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party has positioned itself as an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), drawing support from Nigerians frustrated with economic hardship and insecurity.

Cleopas Explains Why the Delay Was Necessary

Cleopas said the NWC had held several meetings since August and submitted a blueprint for the campaign structure to the party’s leadership.

He said the party wanted to avoid mistakes in appointing officials and ensure the structure was properly constituted before full campaigns began.

“Constitution and inauguration of presidential campaign council is a responsibility of the party at the highest level. But the party itself cannot do that without recourse to the presidential candidate and the vice-presidential candidate,” he said.

He said the delay was deliberate, adding that the party needed people whose loyalty and commitment would remain clear throughout the campaign.

“It is better to get it right. It is a sensitive election that we are going into. And we must check characters,” he said.

The NDC chairman said Obi and Kwankwaso would nominate key officials, including the Director-General, Deputy Director-General for the North, campaign spokesperson, Head of New Media, Finance Director and Deputy Finance Director.

The Finance Director and deputy would work with the National Treasurer to manage campaign funds, including rendering accounts to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Party Reaffirms Support for Obi-Kwankwaso Ticket

Cleopas dismissed reports of division within the NDC over its presidential ticket. He said the party’s leadership, from the national level to ward structures, remained solidly behind Obi and Kwankwaso.

“I want us to know today that the entire leadership of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, from the national leader to me, the national chairman, NWC, state chapters, local government chapters and ward chapters, are solidly behind all our candidates,” he said.

He also rejected allegations that the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, was working with the APC or President Bola Tinubu to undermine Obi’s ambition.

Cleopas said Dickson chose not to pursue the presidency himself and instead provided the platform for Obi and Kwankwaso.

“Do they even think, if he wanted to play so, couldn’t he have taken the presidential ticket of this party and by now all of us would have aligned with APC, which was most convenient at the time?” he asked.

Vote Protection and Campaign Plans Take Shape

Cleopas said the NDC had begun recruiting and training polling agents ahead of the 2027 elections. He said the party was drawing lessons from challenges encountered during the 2023 presidential election and was activating its structures across the states.

He said senatorial and House of Representatives candidates would work with stakeholders in their constituencies to nominate agents for federal elections.

Governorship and state House of Assembly candidates would coordinate similar arrangements at the state level.

*“Voting alone is not it, but vote and protect your vote, and make sure that your vote gets to the point that it will be counted for,”* he said.

The chairman also said the party would match the ruling APC “fire for fire” before, during and after the 2027 elections, while insisting it would defend its votes within the law.

He said the NDC had fielded candidates for the presidency, Senate, House of Representatives, governorship and state Houses of Assembly.

The October 20 programme will also feature a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), where major decisions on the 2027 elections will be ratified, and a dinner to strengthen cooperation among candidates.