Atiku Abubakar unveils ADC 2027 presidential campaign council

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has unveiled a lean Presidential Campaign Council and management committee for the 2027 general elections. The structure is designed to be cost-effective in response to Nigeria’s economic challenges. Key appointments include Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as Chairman of the National Campaign Council and former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai as Deputy Chairman. Senator Austin Akobundu has been named Director-General and Campaign Manager.

The campaign features several operational directorates, including Media and Communications, to be led by Deputy Director-General Dele Momodu, and a policy team coordinated by Mohammed Hayatudeen. Other notable figures in the structure include Senator Dino Melaye for national outreach and former APC Chairman John Oyegun as Chair of the Campaign Advisory Council.

The announcement has met with mixed reactions. Professor Kingsley Moghalu, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, publicly rejected his inclusion in the policy team, stating he was not consulted and has maintained a non-partisan stance since 2022. Additionally, ADC National Youth Leader Sultan Bello and social media influencer Zulkiflu Dalhatu resigned from the party, citing exclusion from the newly announced campaign structure.