2027 Elections: NDC Unveils Campaign Council as PDP Meets INEC Candidate Deadline

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has unveiled its 2027 National Campaign Council, naming presidential candidate Peter Obi, National Leader Seriake Dickson and vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso among those taking key roles as political parties prepare for the general elections.

The announcement came on Sunday, October 25, as the opposition party also prepared for its 3rd National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja.

At the same time, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it had met the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) October 24 deadline for correcting candidates’ names omitted from the commission’s published list.

The two developments highlight the growing focus on campaign structures and candidate lists ahead of the 2027 elections.

Peter Obi, Dickson and Kwankwaso take key NDC roles

The NDC campaign council was announced by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, in a post on his X account.

According to the list, NDC National Leader Seriake Dickson will serve as Chairman of the National Campaign Caucus, while presidential candidate Peter Obi will be Co-Chairman.

The party’s National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Zuwoghe, was listed as Vice Chairman, while its vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, was named Co-Vice Chairman.

The NDC also named a National Campaign Advisory Council headed by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.

Mallam Ibrahim Abdulkarim was named Director-General, with state coordinators also included in the campaign structure.

The party said the council would coordinate campaigns for all elective positions, including the presidency, National Assembly, governorship and State Houses of Assembly.

According to the NDC, the council will provide strategic leadership, coordinate campaign activities across the country and drive mobilisation around the party’s stated vision of a “new, just, and prosperous Nigeria.”

NDC to formally unveil council at NEC meeting

The announcement comes ahead of the NDC’s 3rd National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Monday, October 26, in Abuja.

The meeting is scheduled for 10am at JD Event Centre on Kashim Ibrahim Way, opposite A-Class Park, Maitama.

The party said a major item on the agenda will be the presentation of its Statement of Account by the National Treasurer.

The NEC meeting is also expected to provide the platform for the formal unveiling of the National Campaign Council.

PDP says it corrected omitted candidates

While the NDC was putting its campaign machinery in place, the PDP said it had met INEC’s deadline for correcting the names of candidates omitted from the electoral commission’s published list.

PDP National Organising Secretary, Captain Umar Bature (rtd), said the party completed the process before the October 24 deadline.

According to Bature, the omissions affected governorship candidates in two states as well as several House of Assembly seats.

“Yes, we met the deadline since,” Bature said.

The development follows INEC’s publication of candidate information ahead of the 2027 elections, with political parties required to address errors or omissions within the timeframe set by the electoral commission.

Pantami raises fresh concern over Gombe candidacy

The issue of candidate omissions has also become particularly significant in Gombe State, where former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Pantami has alleged that individuals are working to frustrate his governorship ambition.

Pantami, who is the PDP governorship candidate in the state, made the allegation in a video shared on his Facebook page.

He said investigations had led him to conclude that there was an effort to scuttle his political movement and vowed to disclose the identities and details of those allegedly behind it.

His comments came after INEC omitted his name from its final list of governorship candidates for the 2027 election.

Pantami said his investigations had confirmed the allegations and claimed that substantial money and effort had been deployed against his candidacy.

The allegations are claims by Pantami and, based on the material provided, the identities of the people he accused have not been independently established.

He nevertheless appealed to his supporters to remain steadfast and not be discouraged by the uncertainty surrounding his candidacy.

Pantami also thanked residents who had organised prayers and mobilised support for his political ambition.

2027 election preparations gather pace

The latest developments show political parties moving into a more structured phase of preparations for the 2027 elections.

For the NDC, the immediate focus is the formal unveiling of its campaign council and the coordination of its nationwide campaign structure.

For the PDP, attention is on the finalisation of candidate records following INEC’s deadline for correcting omissions.

In Gombe, Pantami’s political future remains an issue to watch following the omission of his name from INEC’s published list and his allegations of an attempt to frustrate his candidacy.

As the election timetable progresses, campaign organisation, candidate verification and the resolution of outstanding disputes are likely to remain central to the preparations of the parties and their candidates.

Written by Boom RadioNG