The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has resolved its disagreement over the composition of its presidential campaign council, agreeing to allow its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to select key officials for the campaign structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Under the arrangement, Obi and Kwankwaso will nominate candidates for five strategic positions: Director-General, Deputy Director-General for the North, Director of Finance, Deputy Director of Finance and Media Director.
The party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, disclosed this on Saturday during a press conference in Abuja, explaining that the decision followed consultations among the party’s leadership and the two presidential candidates.
The disagreement had reportedly involved the party and the OK Movement, a support group within its fold, over the selection of officials for the presidential campaign council.
Cleopas said the consultations had progressed significantly, adding that the party expected to unveil the council on November 20, provided there were no unforeseen complications.
He explained that the delay in constituting the council was deliberate, as the leadership wanted to ensure that the process was properly handled and that the resulting structure would effectively coordinate the party’s campaign.
According to him, the National Working Committee (NWC) had endorsed the arrangement, stressing that Obi and Kwankwaso must be involved in selecting the people who would lead their campaign.
“The constitution and inauguration of the 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,” Cleopas said.
He maintained that getting the composition right was more important than rushing to announce appointments that might later create problems.
The NDC chairman also dismissed reports suggesting that the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, was not committed to the Obi-Kwankwaso presidential ticket.
Cleopas said Dickson had demonstrated his commitment to the party by declining to use his leadership position to emerge as its presidential candidate, adding that he remained invested in the ticket’s success.
He described Obi and Kwankwaso as a combination capable of attracting support across Nigeria’s religious, ethnic and regional divides.
The chairman also defended the party’s decision not to conduct a competitive presidential primary, insisting that its leadership had been clear about its preferred direction.
“We were clear on the direction we were going, and no regrets,” he said.
Cleopas further identified young Nigerians as a significant factor in the party’s confidence in its presidential ticket, citing voting demographic figures presented by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at a recent event.
He said the NDC was positioning itself as a political platform capable of mobilising younger voters while drawing on the experience of older political leaders.
