The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has approved a lean National Campaign Council and Presidential Campaign Management Committee ahead of the 2027 general election.
The campaign, in a statement signed by the Director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, said the structure was designed to reflect Nigeria’s economic difficulties and avoid what it described as a bloated campaign organisation.
The National Campaign Council will be chaired by Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, while former Kaduna State Governor and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, will serve as Deputy Chairman.
Senator Austin Akobundu, representing Abia Central and a former Minister of State for Defence, was named Director-General and Campaign Manager.
Akobundu will oversee the day-to-day coordination and implementation of the campaign’s activities.
The campaign said its national structure would operate through six major operational directorates, each headed by a Deputy Director-General, with 30 directors assigned specific responsibilities.
According to the statement, the arrangement is intended to reduce duplication and bureaucracy while ensuring that each office has clearly defined functions and measurable responsibilities.
Veteran journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu, will head the Media and Communications Directorate as Deputy Director-General, with responsibility for coordinating the campaign’s traditional, broadcast and digital media operations.
Former lawmaker Dino Melaye will also play a role in the campaign’s national mobilisation, outreach and public engagement activities.
The policy team will be headed by economist and banker Mohammed Hayatudeen, with Professor Mohammed Sagagi as Deputy Chairman and Aare Aremijoye as Secretary.
The campaign also listed former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, among those bringing economic, financial-sector and public policy experience to its policy architecture.
The Campaign Advisory Council will be chaired by a former Edo State Governor and pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
Former Senator Ben Obi and former Permanent Secretary, Lawal Batagarawa will serve as Deputy Chairmen, while Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, will be Secretary.
The campaign said the structure was guided by the principle of “fewer offices, clearer responsibilities and greater accountability,” stressing that there would be no ornamental appointments.
It said the campaign would focus on issues including the rising cost of food, transportation and energy, unemployment, insecurity, declining purchasing power and governance.
“This campaign belongs to the Nigerian people,” the statement said, adding that its strength would be measured by the effectiveness of its organisation, clarity of its policies and attention to Nigerians’ concerns.
The ADC said the full composition of the National Campaign Council and Presidential Campaign Management Committee had also been released.
