NDC, Obi, Kwankwaso agree on campaign structure as Babachir Lawal joins party

From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, have agreed on the structure of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), moving to resolve the disagreement over a parallel campaign structure, as former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, formally joined the opposition party.

Under the arrangement, Obi and Kwankwaso will nominate key officials of the presidential campaign, including the director-general, deputy director-general (North), spokesman, deputy spokesman, head of new media, finance director and deputy finance director, in consultation with the party leadership.

The twin developments came as the NDC intensifieS preparations for the 2027 general elections, with Daily Sun gathering that its presidential campaign is expected to begin in October, although the party has yet to make an official announcement.

Lawal, who was unveiled by NDC National Leader, Seriake Dickson, and other senior party officials in Abuja on Tuesday, immediately rallied support for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, saying worsening insecurity, economic hardship and hunger had made political change imperative.

The agreement on the PCC followed consultations involving Obi, Kwankwaso, Dickson and other party leaders after disagreement over the 59-member campaign council earlier unveiled by the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement.

NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, in a statement, said the party had given its presidential candidate and running mate a free hand to nominate principal officers of the campaign.

According to him, a full organogram of the campaign structure was developed in August and forwarded to Obi and Kwankwaso for their input, while nominations had also been received from stakeholders across the country.

The PCC would be announced and inaugurated after the inputs of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates had been received and incorporated.

The development follows days of disagreement between the NDC leadership and the OK Movement over the authority to constitute the campaign council.

The movement had unveiled a 59-member PCC comprising zonal and state coordinators and directors responsible for mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs and other areas.

It named its Director-General, John Ughulu, as director-general of the campaign structure and National Secretary, Saadatu Sani, as part of its leadership.

But the NDC disowned the structure, saying it did not emanate from the party and insisting that support groups could not constitute parallel campaign structures in its name.

The OK Movement subsequently defended its action, maintaining that it did not require the party’s approval to carry out what it described as its legitimate organisational functions.

The latest arrangement effectively returns the constitution of the official PCC to the party framework while giving Obi and Kwankwaso substantial control over the choice of its principal officers.

The NDC said it had also proposed a campaign timetable since August but was awaiting the conclusion of arrangements for funding and fundraising, which would be spearheaded by the candidates.

Funds raised for the presidential campaign would be paid into the campaign account and managed by officers nominated by Obi and Kwankwaso alongside the party’s national treasurer.

The finance director and deputy finance director would work with the national treasurer to manage campaign funds in accordance with transparency and accountability requirements, including the party’s obligation to render accounts to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party said the inauguration of the PCC, earlier planned for the first week of September, was postponed because of the travel schedule of its presidential candidate.

“There are no battles to fight within the NDC. The common opponent to defeat is the ruling APC.”

The party urged candidates and supporters to “keep their eyes on the ball and focus on winning,” stressing that its candidates were contesting on the NDC platform and not as independents.

Meanwhile, Lawal said his decision to formally identify with the NDC was driven by the challenges confronting the country and his support for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.

The former SGF, who had publicly canvassed support for the combination before joining the party, described backing the ticket as a patriotic undertaking.

“Anybody, anybody at all in Nigeria that has the interest of our country at heart and has sympathy for the suffering that is going on in our country, enabled by insecurity, economic degradation, hunger, ignorance and disease, will have no choice but to join a party that presents Peter Obi and Kwankwaso,” he said.

Lawal urged Nigerians who shared his position to work with the NDC towards electing the duo in 2027.

“Every sensible Nigerian, every patriotic Nigerian ought to understand this, and it’s now convincing to partner with NDC to see to the fulfilment of this very, very noble patriotic objective of installing Peter Obi as the president, and Rabiu Kwankwaso as the vice president in 2027.”

He said he looked forward to May 29, 2027, when, according to him, Nigerians would celebrate achieving what he described as the right outcome for the country and future generations.

“And so, by the grace of God, by the grace of our leader, Nigerians at large, we look forward to May 29, 2027, where we celebrate that we’ve done that which is proper, we’ve done that which is good for the country, and we’ve done that which is good for generations yet unborn.”

“We pray to God to give us the wherewithal to deliver on this very noble and precious objective,” Lawal said.

The NDC also directed its state and Local Government Area chairmen to immediately convene meetings with candidates and relevant stakeholders to compile and harmonise lists of party agents for the 2027 elections.

Two sets of agents are to be compiled — one for the National Assembly elections and another for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.

The lists will be scrutinised and ratified by the party leadership, including Obi and Kwankwaso, before training begins, with the exercise expected to be concluded and the final lists submitted within two weeks.

The committee responsible for the appointment of party agents is chaired by Deputy National Chairman (South), Babatunde Alli, with Vin Martin Ilo as secretary. Yunusa Tanko, Nafiu Dankura and the National Vice Chairmen representing the six geopolitical zones are also members.