The NDC inaugurates campaign council activities across Nigeria following a major national gathering in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday evening. Speaking at the ceremony, presidential standard-bearer Peter Obi launched a direct political offensive against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the incumbent administration has driven the country into widespread economic distress and must be voted out in 2027.
Addressing party executives, legislative candidates, and grassroots supporters in Abuja, the former Anambra State governor argued that Nigerian citizens are actively seeking transformative leadership. He contended that the presidency requires physical presence, administrative competence, and decisive empathy.
"Above all, President Tinubu does not have the energy and resolve required to lead Nigeria today, and he must go home," Obi declared to party delegates. "Nigeria cannot be governed with the energy he has today. Nigeria needs a president who will be available and present."
Leadership Structure and Campaign Hierarchy The NDC high command unveiled a comprehensive campaign council structure designed to coordinate grassroots mobilization across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Former Bayelsa State governor Senator Henry Seriake Dickson was appointed Chairman of the National Campaign Council, with Peter Obi serving as co-chairman. National Chairman Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe assumes the role of vice-chairman, while vice-presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso serves as co-vice-chairman.
Operational leadership will be anchored by Mallam Ibrahim Hussain Abdulkarim as Director-General, supported by National Secretary Barrister Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu as Council Secretary. Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal was appointed to lead the 40-member National Campaign Advisory Council.
Key directorates were also announced, with Osa Director appointed Director of Communication and Media, alongside regional campaign directors tasked with spearheading voter engagement in northern and southern electoral zones.
Tough Economic Critique and Electoral Integrity Warnings Obi used the inauguration to deliver a wide-ranging critique of the federal government's economic track record. He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of deepening poverty, inflation, unemployment, and public indebtedness without transparently accounting for borrowed funds.
The presidential hopeful also addressed the upcoming electoral process, issuing a stern warning against any attempts to manipulate the 2027 ballot.
"We want a free, fair, and credible election. Let it be known that if anybody rigs 2027, we will rig him," Obi stated, emphasizing that peaceful conduct must not be mistaken for administrative weakness. He urged party coordinators and voting monitors to safeguard ballots at every polling unit.
The ceremony also coincided with a formal dinner in Abuja where certificates of return were presented to validated NDC candidates competing for national legislative seats.
Ruling Party Stance and Grassroots Scrutiny The opposition's mobilization comes amid sharp political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 contest. Ruling party strategists have defended Tinubu's economic trajectory, maintaining that tough structural reforms in foreign exchange and fuel subsidies are stabilizing public revenue.
Tinubu recently indicated at the APC campaign council gathering that he would prioritize governance duties in Abuja over attending every routine campaign stop, citing fiscal responsibilities and international financial obligations.
Opposition rival groups have also questioned the timing of the NDC rollout, arguing that building viable grassroots machinery requires sustained community engagement rather than prominent council appointments.
With its campaign leadership now officially ratified, the NDC prepares to roll out state-level campaign directorates, setting up an intense political struggle across the country over the coming months.
