Atiku Unveils 2027 Campaign Council With El-Rufai, Amaechi and Akobundu in Key Roles

Atiku Abubakar has unveiled the team that will run his campaign for the 2027 presidential election, putting former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and Senator Austin Akobundu in prominent positions.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate announced the 69-member campaign structure on Thursday, September 24. Kashim Ibrahim-Imam will chair the council, El-Rufai will serve as deputy chairman, while Akobundu will be the Director-General and Campaign Manager.

Amaechi, who was earlier submitted to INEC as Atiku's running mate, is listed as the vice-presidential candidate. Former Senate President David Mark, who chairs the ADC, is also part of the campaign leadership.

Who is running the campaign?

Akobundu's appointment gives the day-to-day coordination of the campaign to a former military officer and serving senator representing Abia Central.

The campaign has been divided into six operational directorates, with 30 directors working under them.

Dele Momodu will head Media and Communications as Deputy Director-General, while former senator Dino Melaye will lead Contact and Mobilisation. Salihu Tanko Yakasai will oversee Diversity and Support Groups, and Lauretta Onochie will head Technical and Systems.

The campaign's policy team will be led by economist and banker Mohammed Hayatudeen, with Professor Mohammed Sagagi as deputy chairman.

John Oyegun will chair the Campaign Advisory Board, with Lawal Batagarawa and Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, also in its leadership.

What Atiku says the campaign will focus on

Atiku's campaign says its structure was deliberately kept lean in response to the economic pressures facing Nigerians.

Its stated priorities include the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.

That message is already familiar across Nigeria's 2027 political contest, but the campaign council now gives Atiku a formal structure through which those issues will be turned into policy, communications and mobilisation efforts.

The campaign's six directorates cover administration, operations, media and communications, contact and mobilisation, diversity and support groups, and technical and systems.

The arrangement also puts several recognisable political figures in different parts of the operation, including former ministers, governors, lawmakers and media professionals.

One name on the list has already objected

The campaign's announcement has not been accepted by everyone named in it.

Former Central Bank of Nigeria deputy governor Kingsley Moghalu, whose name appeared on the policy team, said he was surprised to see himself listed. He said he had not been consulted and had not agreed to participate in Atiku's campaign.

That leaves the published list with an immediate qualification: being named by the campaign does not necessarily mean every person listed has accepted a role.

For the ADC, the next stage is turning the long list of appointments into an organisation that can operate across the country as the 2027 election approaches.

The campaign has now put names against its major functions. The harder part will be what those people actually do with them.