By Julius Peter, Abuja

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has said it is finalising arrangements for the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, expected to nominate key officials of the campaign structure.

The party disclosed this in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, in which it said consultations were ongoing between the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, the National Leader and other leaders of the party to produce an inclusive and cohesive campaign structure.

The NDC said the campaign council was designed to bring together relevant stakeholders across the country and provide an organisational framework for the party’s presidential campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.

Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC in May 2026 after leaving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the party subsequently affirmed Obi as its presidential candidate and Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 election.

According to the NDC, the presidential candidate and his running mate have been given the responsibility of nominating several principal officers of the Presidential Campaign Council in consultation with the party leadership.

The positions to be filled by the candidates include Director-General of the campaign, Deputy Director-General for the North, Campaign Spokesman, Deputy Spokesman, Head of New Media, Finance Director and Deputy Finance Director, among other positions.

The party said the arrangement was intended to promote inclusiveness and cohesion while allowing the candidates to select individuals they consider suitable to drive the presidential campaign.

The NDC stated that a comprehensive organogram for the campaign structure had been developed since August and presented to Obi and Kwankwaso for their input.

It added that nominations had also been received from stakeholders across the country, stressing that the final structure would be announced and inaugurated after the candidates submit their recommendations.

“The party wishes to assure the public that as soon as we receive the inputs of our Presidential Candidate and his Vice, the NDC shall proceed to announce and inaugurate the same,” the statement said.

The party further disclosed that it had proposed a campaign timetable since August but was awaiting the conclusion of arrangements concerning campaign funding and fundraising.

According to the NDC, the fundraising exercise will be spearheaded by the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, while funds generated will be paid into the presidential campaign account.

The account, it said, will be managed jointly by officials nominated by the presidential candidate and his running mate alongside the National Treasurer of the party.

The party said the arrangement was necessary to promote transparency and accountability in the management of campaign finances, noting that the party would have to render the appropriate accounts to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026.

The Electoral Act, 2026, which repealed and replaced the Electoral Act 2022, provides the current statutory framework for the conduct and regulation of elections in Nigeria. INEC has also issued regulations and guidelines for political parties under the new Act.

The NDC explained that the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council had initially been scheduled for the first week of September but was postponed because of the travel schedule of the presidential candidate.

The party, however, said it remained committed to concluding the process and inaugurating the campaign council once the outstanding consultations were completed.

The development comes as the NDC continues to build its organisational structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In recent months, the party has announced appointments into its national communication structure and other campaign-related positions as it expands its preparations for the elections. Osa Director was appointed National Publicity Secretary in May, while the party also announced appointments in its new media and strategic communications structure.

Beyond the presidential campaign structure, the NDC also appealed to its candidates and supporters across the country to avoid internal disagreements and concentrate on the party’s electoral objectives.

The party urged its candidates at all levels to restrain their supporters and various support groups from engaging in what it described as unnecessary internal battles.

According to the statement, the focus of all members should be on winning elections rather than creating divisions within the party.

“There are no battles to fight within the NDC,” the party said, urging its members to concentrate on defeating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The party also called on its candidates to recognise that they were contesting under the NDC platform rather than as independent candidates and therefore needed to work with the party structure at all levels.

The NDC said it wanted all its candidates to secure victories in their respective constituencies and urged them and their supporters to “keep their eyes on the ball and focus on winning.”

As part of preparations for the elections, the NDC leadership has also directed its state and Local Government Area chairmen to immediately begin the process of compiling and harmonising the names of party agents to be deployed for the forthcoming general elections.

The directive covers candidates contesting at different levels and is intended to ensure that the party has properly identified and trained agents ahead of election day.

Under the arrangement, state and LGA party leaders are expected to meet with candidates and relevant stakeholders to compile two separate sets of agents.

One list will cover agents for the National Assembly elections, while the second will cover agents for governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

The party said the lists would subsequently be scrutinised and ratified by the appropriate party leadership, including the presidential candidate and his running mate, before the commencement of training.

The NDC directed that the exercise be completed and the final lists submitted within two weeks from the date of the directive.

The party also announced the composition of the committee responsible for coordinating the appointment and selection of its election agents.

The committee is chaired by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Comrade Babatunde Alli.

Other members include Vin Martin Ilo, identified as the committee’s Secretary; Dr Yunusa Tanko; Nafiu Dankura; and the National Vice Chairmen representing the six geopolitical zones.

The committee is expected to work with the state and local government party structures in collating, scrutinising and harmonising the lists before the agents undergo training.

The move underscores the party’s efforts to strengthen its grassroots and election-day structures as preparations for the 2027 polls intensify.NDC Presidential Campaign Council Ready Soon,Begins Agents’ Mobilisation

The NDC’s latest announcement represents another phase in its preparations for the 2027 general elections, following the formal emergence of Obi and Kwankwaso as the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

The party’s special convention in May affirmed the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, while subsequent activities have focused on strengthening its national structures and preparing candidates and supporters for the elections.

With the Presidential Campaign Council still awaiting final nominations from the candidates, the party is now expected to complete the consultations and announce the composition of the council.

The NDC said its immediate priorities include finalising the campaign structure, concluding arrangements for funding and fundraising, inaugurating the PCC, compiling election-agent lists and commencing the training of agents.

The party leadership also reiterated its appeal for unity among candidates and supporters, stressing that its various structures must work together towards the 2027 elections.

The party said it remained committed to providing the necessary organisational and institutional support to its candidates, while urging all members to focus their energies on building the party’s electoral strength across the country.