Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has unveiled his Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections, with former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, named as Deputy Chairman.
The campaign council, announced on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications to Atiku, is headed by Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as Chairman, while Senator Austin Akobundu will serve as Director-General and Campaign Manager.
Politics Nigeria reports that the unveiling marks the formal constitution of Atiku’s campaign machinery as the ADC intensifies preparations for the 2027 presidential election. The party had previously said consultations were ongoing over the composition of its campaign structure.
Atiku is contesting the election on the ADC platform alongside former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who is the party’s vice-presidential candidate.
According to the structure released by the campaign, former Edo State Governor John Oyegun will chair the Campaign Advisory Board, with Lawal Batagarawa as Deputy Chairman and Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, as Secretary.
The Policy Team will be chaired by Mohammed Hayatudeen, with Professor Mohammed Sagagi as Deputy Chairman. Other members include Professor Kingsley Moghalu, Professor Mustapha Akinkunmi and Senator Abdul Ningi.
Former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha are among the seven listed Senior Campaign Advisers.
The campaign management structure is divided into six major operational directorates: Administration, Operations, Media and Communications, Contact and Mobilisation, Diversity and Support Groups, and Technical and Systems.
Dele Momodu was named Deputy Director-General of Media and Communications, while former Kogi State Senator Dino Melaye will head Contact and Mobilisation.
The Media and Communications directorate also includes Phrank Shaibu as Director of Strategic Communication, Kola Ologbondiyan as Director of Media and Publicity, Ladan Salihu as Director of Branding and Moji Rhodes-Vivour as Director of Digital and Online Media.
Kenneth Okonkwo, Keturah King, Nana Kazaure, Uche Diala and Dahiru Maishanu were listed as campaign spokespersons.
The Contact and Mobilisation directorate will include Solomon Dalung, who will oversee Mandate Protection, while Naomi Labari will head Women Mobilisation and Balarabe Rufai will be responsible for Youth Mobilisation.
Other notable appointments include Lauretta Onochie as Deputy Director-General of Technical and Systems, while Salihu Tanko Yakasai will oversee Diversity and Support Groups.
The campaign said the structure was designed as a lean, people-driven organisation focused on addressing issues affecting Nigerians, particularly the rising cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.
“This is a structure built for work. Every directorate has a duty. Every director has an assignment. Every appointee must account for results,” Shaibu said in the statement announcing the council.
