The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has unveiled his campaign council for the 2027 general elections, with former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai appointed Deputy Chairman.
The council is chaired by Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, while Senator Austin Akobundu was named Director-General and Campaign Manager.
The appointments were announced on Thursday in a statement by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
The campaign structure comprises six major operational directorates, each headed by a Deputy Director-General, with 30 directors assigned specific responsibilities.
Among the prominent names in the structure are veteran journalist and publisher Dele Momodu, who will oversee the Media and Communications Directorate, and former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye, who will head Contact and Mobilisation.
The Policy Team will be chaired by economist and banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, with Prof. Mohammed Sagagi as Deputy Chairman. Former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, is also listed among its members.
Former Edo State Governor and pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, will chair the Campaign Advisory Board, while Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, will serve as secretary.
Other senior campaign advisers listed include former governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Abdulfatah Ahmed and Emeka Ihedioha.
The campaign management structure covers administration, operations, media and communications, contact and mobilisation, diversity and support groups, as well as technical and systems operations.
The Media and Communications Directorate includes Phrank Shaibu as Director of Strategic Communication, Kola Ologbondiyan as Director of Media and Publicity, Ladan Salihu as Director of Branding and Moji Rhodes-Vivour as Director of Digital and Online Media.
The Contact and Mobilisation Directorate includes Solomon Dalung, Naomi Labari and Balarabe Rufai, who will oversee mandate protection, women mobilisation and youth mobilisation respectively.
The campaign said the structure was designed to maintain clear responsibilities and reduce duplication, with its focus centred on issues such as the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.
Shaibu quoted Atiku as saying the campaign’s success would be measured by how clearly it addresses the economic and social challenges confronting Nigerians and how effectively the organisation translates its plans into action.
The unveiling marks a further step in the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with the newly constituted council expected to coordinate Atiku’s campaign activities nationwide.