Atiku’s Campaign Council: Why Aregbesola, Abdullahi Did Not Make The List

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has explained why its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, were not included in Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.

Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications of the campaign council and Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku, said the two party officials were excluded because they are members of the ADC National Working Committee (NWC), which was responsible for constituting the campaign structure.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Shaibu explained that Aregbesola and Abdullahi played a different role from those appointed to specific positions within the campaign council. He noted that members of the NWC were involved in setting up the structure and assigning responsibilities to the various directorates.

“These are National Working Committee (NWC) members who constituted the campaign council. Every directorate has a duty. Every director has an assignment. Every appointee must account for results,” Shaibu said.

Their absence from the list followed the unveiling of the campaign structure on Thursday. The council is chaired by Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, while former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was named Deputy Chairman. Senator Austin Akobundu was appointed Director-General and Campaign Manager.

Other prominent figures named in the campaign structure include former Edo State Governor John Oyegun, who will chair the Campaign Advisory Board; former presidential aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who heads the Policy Team; former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor Professor Kingsley Moghalu; former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye; and veteran journalist Dele Momodu, who was assigned a leadership role in the Media and Communications Directorate.

Atiku is the ADC presidential candidate, while former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi is his running mate. The campaign says the structure was designed around clearly defined responsibilities, accountability and a focus on issues including the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.