The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is set to establish its official Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election after rejecting a campaign structure announced by the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement.
The party said on Tuesday that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, would nominate some officers for the council in consultation with NDC leaders.
The positions include Director-General, Deputy Director-General for the North, campaign spokesman and deputy spokesman. Others are Head of New Media, Finance Director and Deputy Finance Director.
The arrangement was reached after consultations involving Obi, Kwankwaso, NDC National Leader Seriake Dickson and other party leaders.
The development came after the OK Movement, which supports Obi and Kwankwaso, announced a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council on 17 September.
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The NDC later rejected the council, saying it was not created by the party and should be disregarded.
Dickson addressed the issue on Tuesday when the party received former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, into the NDC.
He said support groups should help candidates build grassroots support but should not take over the work of the political party.
“You have several support groups. Support groups don’t compete with the political party that is sponsoring candidates. Support groups don’t compete for supremacy, for space,” he said.
“Support groups are what they are, support groups. They don’t play the role of a political party. They don’t sponsor candidates. They provide grassroots support, mobilisation support.”
Dickson also said such groups should not attack or turn against the parties supporting their candidates.
“They don’t convert themselves to become critics of the political party sponsoring. They don’t attack the political party sponsoring. They don’t do that,” he said.
He said the NDC had a department responsible for registering and coordinating support groups.
Dickson said the party welcomed organisations that wanted to help mobilise support for its candidates but said they should work within the party’s structure.
He also questioned the decision of a support group to create a presidential campaign council.
“None of them will dare say they are setting up a presidential campaign council. It’s unheard of. Nonsensical. And those who have a duty to educate and call people to order should do so,” he said.
The OK Movement had said it did not need the NDC’s permission to carry out its organisational functions.
The NDC’s current arrangement puts the official campaign council under the party’s structure, with Obi and Kwankwaso involved in choosing some of its officers alongside party leaders.
The party is preparing to inaugurate the council for the 2027 election.
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