Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has constituted his Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election, with several senior African Democratic Congress (ADC) figures named to key positions.
The two-page campaign structure, announced on Thursday, includes Atiku’s running mate, Rotimi Amaechi; ADC National Chairman David Mark; former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai; and former Edo State Governor John Oyegun.
Kashim Ibrahim-Imam was appointed chairman of the campaign council, while El-Rufai was named deputy chairman. Senator Austin Akobundu will serve as Director-General and Campaign Manager.
“This is a structure built for work. Every directorate has a duty. Every director has an assignment. Every appointee must account for results,” Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s media aide, said in a statement.
Aregbesola, Abdullahi absent
However, the campaign council list does not include Rauf Aregbesola, the ADC National Secretary, or Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary.
Aregbesola’s absence has drawn attention given his position in the party’s national leadership and his involvement in its mobilisation activities.
On Thursday, he joined Atiku and other ADC leaders in Akure, Ondo State, for the reception of Eyitayo Jegede, a former governorship candidate, into the party.
Abdullahi said on Friday that the absence of some party leaders from the campaign council should not be interpreted as evidence of estrangement.
“There are so many party leaders whose names are not there. We play an important role in the party. So, it is not anything,” he said.
He said removing key national officers from the party’s regular structure simply to accommodate them in the campaign organisation would be counterproductive.
Reported disagreement over campaign structure
TheCable reported that there had been internal disagreement over the composition and structure of the campaign council.
According to the report, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam and Dino Melaye played key roles in compiling the list before it was submitted to the ADC leadership for review.
Aregbesola was reportedly said to have objected to aspects of the structure, particularly an arrangement under which party executives would report to individuals outside the party’s executive structure.
The report further said Melaye challenged Aregbesola during the discussion, accusing him of failing to appreciate the work that had gone into preparing the list.
The reported disagreement comes as the ADC begins organising its campaign machinery ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
