ABUJA: The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has vowed to match the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) fire for fire in the 2027 general elections, announcing October 20 for the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council.
The party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, disclosed this in Abuja on Saturday after a two-day meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), saying the party was determined to protect its votes and challenge the APC across all elective positions.
Cleopas also announced that the party would present certificates of return to its candidates on October 20 as part of preparations for the elections.
He explained that the inauguration of the campaign council had been delayed to allow consultations with the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
According to him, the party leadership wants to ensure that the campaign structure is properly constituted and that the officials appointed are committed to the party’s objectives before full-scale campaigns begin.
“It is better to get it right. It is a sensitive election that we are going into. And we must check characters,” Cleopas said.
He added that the NWC had held several meetings since August and submitted a blueprint for the campaign council to the party’s leadership.
The NDC chairman said Obi and Kwankwaso would participate in selecting key campaign officials, including the Director-General, Deputy Director-General for the North, campaign spokesperson, deputy spokesperson, Head of New Media and finance directors.
Cleopas further disclosed that the party would organise a dinner on October 20 to strengthen cooperation among its candidates ahead of the elections.
Reaffirming the party’s readiness for the 2027 elections, Cleopas said the NDC would resist attempts to manipulate the electoral process and would defend its votes through lawful means.
“Our commitment to the elections is sacrosanct. Our resolve is absolute,” he declared.
He said the party had fielded candidates for the presidency, Senate, House of Representatives, governorship and state Houses of Assembly, adding that it intended to challenge the ruling APC at every level.
The chairman also dismissed reports of divisions within the NDC over its presidential ticket, insisting that the party’s leadership at the national, state, local government and ward levels remained united behind Obi and Kwankwaso.
He described the pair as a combination capable, in the party’s view, of appealing to Nigerians across religious, ethnic and regional lines.
Cleopas also defended the party’s decision not to conduct a competitive presidential primary, saying its leadership had been clear about the direction it intended to pursue.
We were clear on the direction we were going, and no regrets,” he said.
The party chairman also rejected allegations that its National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, was working with the APC or President Bola Tinubu to undermine Obi’s presidential ambition.
Cleopas argued that Dickson had chosen to provide the party’s platform for Obi and Kwankwaso rather than pursue the presidency himself.
He questioned why Dickson would have relinquished the opportunity to seek the presidential ticket if he intended to undermine the party’s candidates.
The NDC chairman urged media organisations to verify claims about the party’s leadership and reject what he described as false propaganda.
As part of its preparations for the elections, Cleopas said the NDC had begun recruiting and training polling agents to protect its votes, drawing lessons from challenges it said it encountered during the 2023 presidential election.
He explained that candidates contesting senatorial and House of Representatives seats would work with stakeholders in their constituencies to nominate agents for federal elections. Governorship and state assembly candidates would coordinate similar arrangements at the state level.
The chairman urged voters to remain at polling units until votes had been counted and properly transmitted through the electoral process.
“Voting alone is not it, but vote and protect your vote, and make sure that your vote gets to the point that it will be counted for,” he said.
Cleopas expressed confidence in the party’s appeal among young Nigerians, whom he described as a significant voting bloc, and said the NDC intended to create greater opportunities for youth participation in politics and leadership.
He also cautioned candidates against running independent campaigns, insisting that all contestants must work with the party’s established structures.
The announcement of the October 20 inauguration marks another step in the NDC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the party signalling its intention to contest the polls nationwide and prioritise the protection of votes.
