By Attah Ede and Fidelia Soriwei
African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has approved the composition of his Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections, with Kashim Ibrahim-Imam appointed chairman and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, named deputy chairman.
The campaign structure, announced on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, also names Senator Austin Akobundu as Director-General and Campaign Manager.
The council will operate through six Deputy Directors-General overseeing operational directorates, with 30 directors assigned specific portfolios. The campaign said the structure was intended to establish defined responsibilities and accountability across its operations.
Veteran journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu, will oversee the Media and Communications Directorate, while former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, will head Contact and Mobilisation.
The Policy Team will be chaired by economist and banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, with Professor Mohammed Sagagi as deputy chairman. Former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, is also listed among the members of the policy team.
The Campaign Advisory Board will be chaired by former Edo State Governor and pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Oyegun. Lawal Batagarawa will serve as deputy chairman, while Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, is listed as secretary.
Other senior campaign advisers named in the structure include Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Emeka Ihedioha, Adamu Maina Waziri, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Senator Felix Ogunwale and Senator Patricia Akwashiki.
The Contact and Mobilisation Directorate will include units for mandate protection, women mobilisation, persons with disabilities, stakeholder engagement and youth mobilisation. The Diversity and Support Groups Directorate will cover support groups, NGOs and civil society organisations, business and professional bodies, gender issues, and the entertainment and creative industry.
The Technical and Systems Directorate will oversee election operations and management, polling unit operations, voter intelligence, monitoring and evaluation, and the campaign situation room, according to the published council structure.
Shaibu said the campaign would focus on issues including the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power, while describing the organisation as a lean structure with specific assignments for its officials.
“When families are struggling with food prices, transport costs and shrinking incomes, a campaign asking for their trust must show discipline in how it operates,” Shaibu said.
He added, “Our measure of success will be how clearly we address the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power—and how effectively we organise to make Nigeria affordable again.”
The campaign council is expected to coordinate Atiku’s nationwide presidential campaign activities ahead of the 2027 election. The ADC has submitted Atiku as its presidential candidate and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
