Former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor Kingsley Moghalu has rejected his inclusion in Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential campaign policy team, saying he was not consulted before his name appeared in the newly announced African Democratic Congress campaign structure.
His clarification came only hours after Atiku’s campaign unveiled a national campaign council naming former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former senator Dino Melaye, publisher Dele Momodu and several other political figures to roles ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
The campaign announcement, issued on Thursday, September 24, by Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Director of Strategic Communications for the campaign council, named Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as chairman of the council and El-Rufai as deputy chairman.
Senator Austin Akobundu was named Director-General and Campaign Manager. The structure also includes six operational directorates and 30 directors with different campaign responsibilities.
But the inclusion of Moghalu in the policy team quickly became a point of dispute.
Moghalu says he was not consulted
The published campaign structure listed economist and banker Mohammed Hayatudeen as chairman of the Policy Team, Professor Mohammed Sagagi as deputy chairman and Moghalu among its members.
Moghalu later said he had not agreed to take part.
“For the record: I was not consulted and did not give my consent,” he said in a statement reported on Thursday night. He also made clear that he was not serving on Atiku’s policy team “even unofficially or in any advisory capacity”.
Moghalu said he had left partisan politics in 2022 and maintained that he was neither a member nor sympathiser of any Nigerian political party.
El-Rufai, Momodu and Melaye named in campaign structure
Under the campaign announcement, former Edo State Governor and former APC National Chairman John Oyegun was named chairman of the Campaign Advisory Board, with Lawal Batagarawa as deputy chairman and Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, as secretary.
The senior campaign advisers listed include former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha.
Momodu was named Deputy Director-General of the Media and Communications Directorate. That arm also lists Phrank Shaibu for strategic communication, Kola Ologbondiyan for media and publicity, Ladan Salihu for branding and Moji Rhodes-Vivour for digital and online media.
Melaye, a former senator representing Kogi West, was named Deputy Director-General for Contact and Mobilisation. That directorate covers areas including mandate protection, women mobilisation, youth mobilisation, disability inclusion and stakeholder engagement.
Former sports minister Solomon Dalung was named to oversee mandate protection, while Balarabe Rufai was listed for youth mobilisation.
The Operations Directorate is headed by Ralph Nwosu and includes organisation, strategy, security and diaspora operations. Former House of Representatives member Nnena Ukeje was listed as the official responsible for Diaspora and Foreign Operations.
That position could be particularly relevant to Nigerians abroad as the campaign develops its overseas political engagement ahead of the election.
Campaign says economy will be central issue
Atiku’s campaign said the structure was designed around issues it believes are affecting Nigerians, including food and transport costs, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.
Those are campaign claims about its priorities rather than evidence of future policy outcomes.
The campaign said individual directorates and office holders would have defined responsibilities and would be expected to account for their work.
The published structure identifies Atiku as the ADC presidential candidate and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his vice-presidential candidate.
The announcement marks another stage in the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 election, but Moghalu’s rejection also demonstrates why inclusion on a campaign list should not automatically be treated as acceptance.
NewDailyPrime previously reported on Atiku’s efforts to strengthen ADC structures and mobilisation ahead of the election.
Related news
Atiku holds closed-door meeting with ADC stakeholders in Adamawa — the meeting focused on party organisation, registration and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election. Read on New Daily Prime
El-Rufai’s allies push Ashiru alliance as ADC battle for Kaduna gathers pace — background on El-Rufai’s role within the ADC political structure. Read on New Daily Prime
Atiku’s daughter Fatima joins ADC ahead of 2027 elections — further background on the former vice-president’s move into the ADC. Read on New Daily Prime
What readers should know
Atiku’s campaign has announced a broad management structure for the 2027 presidential election, with Ibrahim-Imam, El-Rufai, Akobundu, Momodu and Melaye among those given prominent roles. However, at least one person on the original list — Kingsley Moghalu — has expressly rejected his inclusion, saying he was never consulted. Readers should therefore distinguish between people named by the campaign and those whose participation has been independently confirmed.
