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Obi, Kwankwaso to receive certificates of return
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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has fixed 20 October 2026 for the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), presentation of Certificates of Return to its candidates and a strategic dinner for candidates contesting elective positions across the country.
It said the date would mark a major step in its preparations for the 2027 general elections, with consultations involving its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, central to finalising the campaign leadership.
National Chairman of the NDC, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, disclosed this on Saturday at a press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, explaining that the campaign council’s structure and timetable had been ready since the end of August.
He, however, said the inauguration was awaiting the conclusion of consultations with the candidates, including their recommendations for key campaign positions.
According to him, the activities scheduled for 20 October would follow a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), where decisions concerning its preparations for the elections are expected to be considered and ratified.
Cleopas said the delay in inaugurating the PCC should not be interpreted as evidence of inactivity or internal division, insisting that the party was deliberately taking time to ensure that the campaign structure reflected competence, capacity and national spread.
“The organogram and timetable have been ready since the end of August. We are only waiting for the candidates to conclude their consultations and submit their nominees for the various positions,” he said.
He explained that Obi and Kwankwaso were expected to recommend candidates for strategic positions, including Director-General, Deputy Director-General, campaign spokesperson, Director of Social Media and Financial Controller.
The two candidates are also expected to nominate two additional officers who, alongside the party’s National Treasurer, would oversee the campaign council’s separate bank account.
Cleopas said involving the presidential candidate and his running mate in the appointments and financial arrangements was necessary to ensure that the campaign structure enjoyed their confidence and operated within an agreed framework.
He added that the party’s national leadership and National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, were united on the process and the broader preparations for the elections.
The chairman said the campaign council would be announced after the party received the candidates’ recommendations, adding that the process was designed to prevent avoidable disagreements over appointments and responsibilities.
Cleopas also dismissed suggestions that Dickson was working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the NDC’s presidential ticket.
“Why would Dickson go the tortuous and more expensive route of setting up and registering a party when it would have been easier and more financially beneficial to simply join the APC?” he asked.
He maintained that the decision to provide the party’s platform to Obi and Kwankwaso demonstrated the leadership’s commitment to its political objectives, while urging journalists to exercise caution in reporting allegations and political speculation.
Beyond the campaign council, the NDC chairman disclosed that the party was putting arrangements in place to recruit, train and deploy election agents ahead of the 2027 polls.
He said candidates contesting state and national elections would nominate agents to represent them during the electoral process, with separate lists to be submitted for state and national contests.
The national lists would cover the presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections, while the candidates would be expected to participate in preparing agents for their respective contests.
Cleopas said the party planned extensive training to equip the agents to monitor voting, observe electoral procedures, report irregularities and protect the interests of their candidates.
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He said the NDC was drawing lessons from the challenges encountered by Obi and the Labour Party during the 2023 presidential election, adding that the party was determined to strengthen its capacity to protect its votes.
“We are making arrangements to ensure that the mistakes of 2023 are not repeated in 2027,” he said.
The chairman stressed that preparations for the presidential election could not be separated from those of the party’s governorship and legislative candidates, insisting that effective coordination across the country would be crucial to its electoral performance.
On its relationship with support groups, Cleopas said the NDC recognised the importance of organisations such as the Obidient Movement, Kwankwasiyya and OK Movement in mobilising voters and defending the party’s votes.
He, however, cautioned against support groups taking over responsibilities reserved for the party, citing the setting up of a presidential campaign committee before the NDC had completed its own consultations as an example of the problem.
“We are very lucky and happy to have the likes of Obidients, Kwankwasiyya, OK Movement and several other groups in our fold. They play a very critical role in mobilising support and votes, and in defending those votes,” he said.
“But there are functions reserved for the party. You cannot set up a presidential campaign committee when the party is still consulting and compiling its list.”
He said the NDC would involve genuine members of the support groups in its campaign structure because of their expertise, reach and grassroots networks, but would not allow disputes or misinformation to derail its preparations.
Cleopas also addressed concerns raised by some party members over alleged infiltration of support groups by individuals suspected of working for rival political interests. He attributed some of the controversies circulating on social media to what he described as sponsored actors, while insisting that the party had no disagreement with genuine supporters of its candidates.
The chairman further dismissed claims that the NDC had yet to begin engaging voters, disclosing that town hall meetings had been held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Sokoto and Kaduna, with Enugu scheduled for the following week.
“Our town hall began in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. I was there with our presidential candidate, the running mate and the Rivers State governorship candidate of the party, Dumont Lulu-Briggs, among several others. We have also had town hall meetings in Sokoto and Kaduna. By next week, we’ll be in Enugu,” he said.
He described the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket as one capable of appealing to Nigerians across regional, ethnic and religious lines, adding that the party was combining youth participation with the experience of established political leaders to build a lasting political institution.
Cleopas said the NDC was fielding candidates for all categories of elective positions, including the presidency, governorships, Senate, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly.
On electoral integrity, he called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and political actors to ensure that the outcome of the 2027 elections reflected the will of voters.
“Allow votes to count or be counted,” he declared, warning against attempts to manipulate election results.
He said the party was committed to playing by the rules but would take lawful steps to protect its candidates and votes, while urging security and intelligence agencies to remain non-partisan.
“We are convinced that if it is the votes to win the 2027 general elections, we have them,” he said.
The NDC chairman expressed confidence that the 20 October activities would strengthen coordination among the party’s candidates, formalise its presidential campaign leadership and advance preparations for the general elections.
He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to national renewal, declaring: “Nigeria must work again.”
